364 ON THE FORMATION OF BORDERS FOR WALL FRUIT, 
are destined to be only thinly spread out on, in most cases, a very 
limited space. Every circumstance, therefore, which affects or may 
affect them in this unnatural situation, must be applied in such measure 
as shall correspond and be equal in their effects to each other. What¬ 
ever the height or space of wall appropriated to the tree may be, every 
thing else should be apportioned thereto; instead of a wide border for 
a low or limited space, a narrow one may suffice; and instead of a deep, 
a shallow trenched or made border will certainly be far more suitable. 
Such equalisation of the meanis of culture induces a corresponding 
development of the principal members of the tree ; the root has no 
extra stimulus to excite, or superabundant sap to throw into the 
branches, nor are the latter prompted into that irregular state of barren 
luxuriance which is consequent on planting in over-rich and deep 
borders. 
By such measures a moderate degree of growth is produced inductive 
of healthy expansion, and at the same time prolificacy; and by skilful 
stopping and selection of the required bearing-wood in the month of 
May, no useless growth is allowed, and little knife-work is required in 
winter. 
A fruit border which will combine all the advantages above alluded 
to (to provide against the errors sometimes committed in forming 
new gardens), should be dry, have a solid bottom of stone, compact 
gravel, or pavement ; the bed for the roots to spread in need not be 
deeper than about fourteen inches at most, and no better soil can be 
used, when the natural soil is unsuitable, than pure fresh loam got from 
a common or old pasture, and without any mixture of rank dung what¬ 
ever. If the loam be considered too heavy for stone-fruit, it may be 
lightened with leaf-mould and white or road sand, if it can be procured. 
Sand of a deep yellow or rusty colour is bad, and should never be used 
for such purposes. 
Excavating the natural soil to form a deep border is always a 
hazardous expedient, if great care be not taken to drain the hollow 
so made; and, if the natural soil be clay, far better it is to form the 
border on its surface than dig into it to gain greater depth, for this 
would certainly act as a cess-pool in wet weather, to the great injury of 
roots. When a border is so raised on clay, the surface of the latter 
should be first sloped outwards to prevent water stagnating at the base 
of the wall. 
It may not be altogether presumption to assert that many fruit trees 
in gardens, both on walls and trained as espaliers, are barren entirely 
in consequence of too deep planting in too richly manured soil. An 
abundant growth of summer shoots are annually produced only to be 
