On 8/8/06 12:32, in article
, "Sally Thompson"
wrote:

On Tue, 8 Aug 2006 11:28:26 +0100, Sacha wrote
(in article ):

snip

My husband, who has been in the business or associated with it for 60 years,
says that an old gardener once told him to listen to the old chaps when they
start apparently rambling on about 'the old days'. He said that every now
and again you'll pick up some little gem of information that you didn't know
before and that will make your patience worthwhile. Ray says he's found
that to be true time after time. The placing of a stone slab beneath an
apple tree when planting it was just one, but I doubt anyone does that now!


I'm intrigued. Why would you place a stone slab beneath an apple tree when
planting?


Apparently, it forces the roots to go outwards and THEN downwards, giving
more stability to the tree. Ray was on a tour of an old garden some years
ago when the guide mentioned this had been found on the property when garden
renovations were taking place. The guide said that he bet nobody knew why
the slabs were there. Ray didn't exactly make himself popular with the
guide when he piped up!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(email address on website)