200 THE FLORAL WOELD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



A still cheaper method of procedure would be to make the border 

 outside, and dispense with heating apparatus ; but this plan would 

 be occasionally attended with the drawback of a poor crop. AVith 

 the border inside and with command of artificial heat, you may be 

 sure of grapes every season ; with no heat, and with outside borders, 

 you would not get a berry in such a season as 1860 was. Outside 

 borders answer better with lean-to houses, because we can have 

 them facing full south; but a siDan-roofed house must be put to run 

 as nearly as possible north and south, so as to get the sun on all 

 parts of the house during the day. The borders, therefore, face east 

 and west, and have much less sun heat than when a south-lookiDg 

 lean-to has border sloping full in the face of bright Phcebus. Never- 

 theless, though I state the pros and cons fairly, this would be a 

 good house, and would give fair average returns. It would have the 

 best chance in a high, dry, warm position ; in a low, damp, cold 

 district the first plan is greatly to be preferred, that is, inside border 

 and a hot-water service. 



The borders would require to be thoroughly well drained to begin 

 with. I will not waste space by telling how to drain them ; it is 

 best to leave some things unsaid. The stuff for the border should 

 consist in the main of good turfy loam, with a very plentiful admix- 

 ture of sandy road drift, broken oyster-shells, broken bones, and 

 clean lime rubbish. I would not use a particle of manure; time 

 enough for that when, after many years' cropping, the vines begin 

 to need a little help. Then a good mulching with fat dung will 

 produce its effect. One of the most prevalent errors in vine- 

 growing is the free use of manure ; nearly all the shanking, rust, 

 mildew, and the rest of the plagues are produced by manure ; and 

 when all works well, manure only makes large berries, it does not 

 make either flavour or colour. Eeserve the fattening foods, then, 

 for times of real need ; for the first start and for many years to 

 come, turfy loam, with siliceous and calcareous additions, will make 

 fine canes, and superbly coloured and flavoured grapes. 



Let me tell you how to spoil the whole affair. If the border is 

 outside, crop it ; if it is inside, put pot plants all over it. In either 

 case you ruin the roots of the vines, and will be writing to us to 

 ask if we can tell you what is the matter. Yes, exhaust the good- 

 ness of the border by cropping it with vegetables, or exclude the 

 sunshine from it by smothering it with pot plants, and say no more 

 about grapes for the million ; for the fact is, with such treatment 

 you may spend a million, and yet have no grapes. 



The most successful grower of grapes in the country is Mr. 

 Meredith, of the Vineyard, Garston, near Liverpool. The wonderful 

 bunches of Black Hamburghs he exhibits are grown in a lean-to 

 house, with outside border raised above the level, and the border 

 consists almost wholly of sandy loam. Nothing could be more 

 simple or more effective. S. H. 



