464 THE GARDENER. [Oct. 



VINES IN ITALY -DEPTH OF SOIL. 



In the leader for July there is a hard nut to crack for some who yet 

 boldly defend shallow Vine-borders. I have no doubt but this sub- 

 ject (as all that concerns the Vine generally does) will in due time 

 be thoroughly ventilated. I have no intention of entering into the 

 matter, further than saying that there is as much common-sense in 

 the views there promulgated as has appeared in print on Vine-man- 

 agement for some years. While reading the remarks in reference 

 to Vines on the " rocky hill-sides " of the Rhine, it brings forcibly 

 to my mind the conversations it was often my privilege to enjoy 

 with one who was a most successful Grape-grower in this country; 

 and many of his lessons were learned in France and Italy. Much 

 of what he saw in these countries he profited by, learning to thoroughly 

 avoid the practices of some, and closely imitate the practices of others. 

 I need not say that the first were the unsuccessful cultivators, and 

 the latter those who were successful. The finest crops, and by far 

 the most superior fruit, were had where the roots got down a great 

 depth, and some of the rocky hills were the positions where the 

 roots went deepest into the ground and moisture was most abundant. 

 This can be easily illustrated in our country. On some steep hills 

 which I climbed last year, Heath, Ferns, Violas, and shrubs of many 

 kinds, I saw growing in great luxuriance on the elevated positions, 

 while the same plants far below on the plains were burnt up with 

 drought. Springs of water were abundant on the steepest part of 

 the hills, when the cattle in the valleys were parched with drought. 

 By this one can easily understand how plants can have abundance 

 of moisture on hill -sides. Let any one throw up a ridge of soil 

 (the higher the better) and observe hov/ moisture-loving plants will 

 luxuriate after their roots are established in the soil. Depth of soil, 

 where water cannot become stagnant, will fight half of the practical 

 gardener's battles ! 



To turn to the Vines : my friend mentioned the various modes 

 of supplying manure to the roots. Sewage, in a fresh state, was 

 a favourite system of some, and by far the most efi'ective; but to 

 carry this practice out in our shallow Vine-borders in this country 

 would be certain destruction. In Italy, the great depth the feeders 

 were from the surface prevented any mishaj), as the rains washed 

 down the strong food gradually and very slowly. To use weak 

 material would have been sheer waste, as it would have been ex- 

 hausted before it reached the active roots. I have observed this 

 friend I refer to watering his Vines ; it was not a dribble in his 

 well- prepared borders, but a thorough soaking well out in his kit- 

 chen-garden, where the feeders were pushing their way in search of 



