iSyi.] ■ VINE-iBORDERS. 209 



dium-sized, large-berried, well-finished bunches are, in my opinion, 

 better indications that the Vines are receiving, at top and bottom, treat- 

 ment in accordance with their natural requirements. And their 

 chances of longevity and fruitfulness are more certain than when they 

 produce bunches of enormous proportions. The fact is, when by any 

 process we force the smaller and most useful varieties of Grape- Vines 

 to produce enormous bunches, we are pushing their vital energies be- 

 yond the limits assigned to them by nature ; and as nature demands 

 implicit obedience to her laws, nothing but undesirable results can 

 follow the infringement of them. 



The effect of high feeding is the same in plants and animals. In 

 both it produces unnatural and premature development ; and neither 

 can live long and remain healthy under a continued course of stimu- 

 lating food. 



That the Vine requires generous treatment we all know, but it does 

 not follow as a consequence that it has a special liking for the excre- 

 ment of animals or the offal from the slaughter-house. Yet it is beyond 

 dispute that some years since — and I fear the practice is not quite 

 abolished — garbage and the most stimulating manures that could be 

 got hold of entered largely into the composition of Vine-borders. 



But, as previously intimated, gross manures are not natural require- 

 ments of the Vine ; therefore the introduction of them into the border 

 is a mistake, leading to the production of strong spongy wood, difficult 

 under any circumstance to ripen ; and in wet localities, where during 

 the autumn months clouds and mists prevail, it is next to impossible 

 to impart to it that ripened character so essential to the production of 

 good Grapes. 



But suppose that by a liberal application of fire-heat we succeed in 

 ripening such strong growths, will the crop be superior in any respect 

 to that which wood of moderate thickness will produce ? So far as 

 my experience goes, the contrary is the rule, as the following will 

 show : — Some eight years ago I planted in pots six Black Hamburg 

 Vines, with the intention of fruiting them the year following. I had a 

 certain reason for wishing them to produce fine Grapes. I therefore 

 grew the canes extra strong, and ripened them to my satisfaction ; but 

 I was thoroughly disappointed with the crop, in so far as large compact 

 bunches were concerned. Of the twenty-four bunches which the six 

 Vines were permitted to ripen, not one of them was fit to point to 

 as an example of what, in point of shape, a fine bunch of Grapes 

 should be. 



I therefore came to the conclusion that overstrong growth does not 

 produce well-shaped, large-berried bunches. However, I may be wrong. 

 What say some of our first-class Grape-growers ? But to return to the 



