MARCI. vo 
the last year some of the very finest fruit that went into London were 
produced here; indeed, the words of the consignee, who is not by any 
means one of the easiest to satisfy, were, ‘‘ The Grapes and Peaches 
that were sent up were magnificent.” 
Another instance I will adduce. I well remember seeing in Devon, 
in the year 1852, a wall of Peaches and Nectarines which were planted 
in a border of light spongy material, and every care was bestowed upon 
it to keep it open and porous; the consequence was that the trees grew 
most luxuriantly and grossly ; the wood did not ripen, and was often 
half killed down in winter, even in Devon, and consequently little or no 
fruit was produced. My opinion was asked. My advice was: lift 
your trees, get some stiff loam and mix into your soil, and after your 
trees are again planted let it consolidate, do not fear treading upon it, 
&e. I have since heard that from this very wall they are gathering 
some fine crops yearly. I could enumerate several other instances that 
have come under my notice, but I think enough has been stated by me. 
I should, however, hope that others will take up this subject, and give 
us their ideas and experience upon it. Do not let it be supposed that 
I am advocating making cart roads over the borders—I am far from 
carrying the matter to that extreme—but I do think too many of our 
borders are made much too light. 
Ai 

EXPERIMENTAL GARDENING. 
Border-making and foot-pruning.—kIn our last paper we alluded 
to root management as an important point bearing on fruit-tree 
culture. In point of practice, border making and root management 
are inseparably connected with success in training and pruning, so far, 
that it would be useless to lay down rules for the one without considering 
the other; for, however certain it may be that in some localities fine 
. fruits are grown without any special provision having been made in the 
way of borders, yet, in the far greater number of cases, artificial pre- 
parations for borders are necessary for securing a healthy root action ; 
without which no skill of the gardener, bestowed on the heads of his 
trees, will avail in keeping them in health and productiveness for any 
length of time. 
In treating this subject, we have to bear in mind that the native 
fruits we cultivate are few, compared with introductions from warmer 
climates; for although the Apple and Pear are held to be natives of 
Britain by botanists, yet so far as the best varieties of the latter (and 
‘many even of the former) are ‘concerned, their superiority can only be 
maintained by careful cultivation ; while the Peach, Nectarine, Cherry, 
Fig, and Apricot require the protection of walls (see ante p. 58), to 
induce them to produce their fruit in perfection; and it will be evident 
at once that the borders in which the roots are to grow must bear some 
relation, as regards warmth and dryness, to the improved climate made 
for the trees by the means pointed out. 
It should be laid down as a rule in practical fruit culture that the 
