YINE BOEDEES. 



greatly to tlie productiveness of agricultural labor. They rooted out many old worth- 

 less fruits, and introduced in their stead such valuable varieties as their neighbors had 

 never dreamed of before. They beautified their own home with trees, and flowers, 

 and tasteful arrangement, and by so doing became the occasion of beautifying the 

 homes of farmers all around them. By acquainting themselves with the habits of 

 destructive insects, and devising means to prevent their ravages, by originating new 

 and valuable fruits, and by improvements in agricultural implements, they became 

 public benefactors in a wider sphere, and had the satisfaction of seeing the whole 

 country in some degree the better for their labors. Though they never became rich, 

 they were the masters of a competence, and their hospitable home and intelligent 

 conversation attracted the most intellectual society for a large region about them. 

 And although such a thing as an agricultural publication had rarely been heard of 

 in their vicinity when they were boys, scarcely a family is now without one, and I 

 doubt not that the Horticulturist is at this time well appreciated and extensively 

 taken in their neighborhood. 



I have sometimes thought that if some other farmers I know were to bestow^ a little 

 attention upon the career of these two young men, they might perceive at once the 

 reason why so many among the most bright and enterprising of farmers' sons seek 

 some other occupation, so soon as they are at liberty to do so. Where the mind is 

 not interested, the hand disdains to labor. lie who teaches his sons to work as he 

 would teach the unreasoning ox to bear the yoke, must expect the restless mind to 

 long for that activity elsewhere, which he neglects to incite in his own employment. 



VINE BORDERS. 



BY EOBEET MESTON, GAEDENEE TO A. J. POLK, NASIIYILLE, TENN. 



In the July number of the Horticulturist, page 311, Mr. Cleveland says : " A contro- 

 versy has arisen of late years relative to the use of slaughter-house manure, carcasses 

 of animals, &c., as a material in the composition of vine borders." Now, sir, I would 

 respectfully ask Mr. C, if, after nine years experience with his border, composed of 

 sods, shoe makers' chips, oyster shells, and all the bones and carcasses he could get 

 hold of, whether he has succeeded in growing better grapes than his neighbors who 

 have not had the advantage of the same material ? If he has, the controversy is ended 

 and every practical gardener will be glad to avail himself of Mr. C.'s experience. But 

 on the contrary, I believe it is the opinion of the majority of practical gardeners that 

 animal matter is not necessary as a material in the composition of vine borders ; for 

 this reason the best grapes grown in England and America arc produced without its 

 aid. Then, if this is true, where is the economy of using a material that is more 

 expensive to obtain, and, when obtained, is two or three years before it is of any mate- 

 rial use to the vine, even supposing it is not injurious while in the state of decomposition. 

 ]\Ir. C. says, " the best authorities I have seen in favor of the practice, do not recom- 



