1869.] FRUIT-CULTURE. 153 



FKUIT-CULTUE-E. 



THE VINE. 



{Continued from page 75.) 



A SUBJECT in connection with the formation of Vine-borders which is 

 of no small consequence is the exclusion of wire-worm from them. 

 If the soil is taken from pasture-land, or any land under grass, wire- 

 worm will abound if the soil is taken from the field in fresh 

 weather ; but if taken not more than 4 inches deep, and during sharp 

 frost, the worm, and all other insects, will be left in the field, for they 

 descend beyond that depth to avoid the frost. We have always acted 

 on this suggestion, and never have had wire-worm in a Vine-border. 

 When this pest is in the border, pieces of carrot or potato placed at 

 intervals of one foot all over it, and covered with the soil, having a 

 sharp-pointed stick stuck in each by which to lift and examine them 

 daily, will soon clear the soil of them, though in the interval they 

 not unfrequently do much damage to the roots of the Vine ; therefore 

 prevention is better than cure in this, as in every other case of the sort. 

 There are many at the present day w^ho are anxious to grow Grapes, 

 yet have no access to parks or pastures where they can get maiden 

 loam, and to whom we say, Do not let this deter you. Take the 

 common soil of your garden ; if it is heavy calcareous soil, mix it with 

 road-scrapings, old lime-rubbish, or burnt clay, and throw it into 

 sharp ridges for the winter. During dry weather mix with it some 

 portion of farmyard manure, a few bones, and wood-ashes if you can 

 get them, and a few bushels of superphosphate of lime. Turn it over 

 in frosty weather, and this will form the staple of your border. Make 

 an effort to get a few cart-loads of fresh loam from the side of some 

 road, ditch, or common ; mix this with a portion of decayed stable- 

 manure, a few finely-ground bones, and a little old lime-rubbish. See 

 that the whole is kept dry till wanted, then use it for the immediate 

 planting of the Vines, and it will give them a start. After passing through 

 it, they will thrive well in the soil of the garden made up as described. 

 We have a neighbour who is a keen amateur Vine-grower. His Vines 

 were planted as here described in a few loads of good soil about 

 fourteen years ago. They have ever since then been allowed to ramble 

 at will in the common soil of his garden, which is light and poor. He 

 covers the border, or rather that portion of his garden which the roots 

 traverse, annually with a layer of cow-manure 4 inches in depth, and 

 allows it to wash into the soil and feed the roots, the consequence of 

 which is, that they are found in abundance close to the surface; and his 

 crops of Grapes, especially his Muscats, are the admiration of all who 

 see them. The house is span-roofed exactly like the woodcut in this 



