VINE BORDERS HEATED ARTIFICIALLY. 



iiiarked 1 ; this drain is one foot square, the top of it being level with the bottom 

 of tlic bonlor, as also shown. 



"(.'round Plan of Houses, showing Cross- Waifs beneath the Vine Borders. 



Section.— \\\\Q\\ this was completed, dwarf walls, marked 3, were built across the 





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border, three and a half feet apart, one foot square, in the pigeon-hole manner : 

 on the top of these walls are laid rough flags ; these, in reality, form the bottom 

 of the border, and upon these is placed about six inches of broken stones and 

 bricks, marked 4 ; then covered with turf, with the grassy side down, to prevent 

 the soil from mixing with the stones. There are flues or chimneys at each end 

 of the border and centre communicating with the drains in the bottom, as shown 

 in the section, marked 2. The top of these flues is nicely made of stone ten inches 

 square, through which is cut a hole of six inches square, into which is inserted a 

 plug of a wedge-like form, so as to fit tightly, but removable at pleasure ; these 

 flues are about an inch above ground. At the back of the border are placed 

 cast-iron j)ipcs (marked 5) perpendicularly, and also communicating with the 

 drains underneath ; these being higher than the flues in front, cause a motion in 

 the air beneath the border. After a long continuance of rain, the plugs in the 

 flues in front are taken out, thereby creating a great circulation of air, and thus, 

 to a vast extent, accelerating the proper drying of the borders, which is deemed 

 of much importance. In the winter season, the borders are covered with leaves 

 and stable manure, to the depth of twelve inches. It is obvious that the whole 

 aim of the constructor of this border was to do that which experience shows to 

 be so very important. He not only got rid of superfluous water, but he introduced 

 air in abundance, and, at the same time, the natural warmth which it carries with 

 it. The result was. Black Hamburgh Grajies, weighing from two pounds nine 

 ounces to five pounds a bunch — beautiful fruit, of admirable quality, on vines just 

 seven years old. 



The experiments with concreting vine border were all made with the same end 

 in view — the elevation of the temperature of the soil in which vine roots are 

 formed ; this is found to be of great importance. 



