VINE BORDERS. 



mend a direct application of such material to the roots of a growing vine, but only 

 that it should be placed where the roots would find it when it was properly decomposed 

 and fit for their use." Here is an acknowledgement from Mr. C, and the authors he 

 quoted, that animal matter, in a decomposed state, is not fit food for a vine. Then 

 why apply it? I have no objection to animal matter, when j)ropoily decomposed, 

 forming a part of the material that is to compose a vine border, as I believe it is good 

 strong food for vines when properly used ; but I object to burying whole carcasses to 

 decompose in a vine border, and, when decomposed, to lay them in a bulk. This is 

 my reason : At the time of the decomposition of the carcass, the ground becomes 

 impregnated with theeflluvia arising from this mass of animal matter, and renders the 

 ground so affected incapable of sustaining the roots of a vine. 



But, according to Mr. Cleveland, roots have the power of selection, always seizing 

 upon anything valuable, or to stop short if they meet with any injurious matter. 

 Here I must plead ignorance as it regards the stopping short ; do they cease growing, 

 or do they turn around and go another way ? or do they mount the beast and get 

 rode to death ? Now, as far as my experience goes, they neither stop short or go 

 around, but continue in a straight course without any power of selection. If this is 

 not so, why do we turn up dead roots in a vine border in the neighborhood of 

 unwholesome matter, caused by the decomposition of dead carcasses. I have never 

 seen an instance yet where good wholesome vegetable compost was used in the forma- 

 tion of a vine border, that it ever had to be taken out, or the vines become unhealthy ; 

 but twice I have seen all the compost taken out of vine borders where green slaughter 

 house manure had been used in mnking the borders, and three years lost to the 

 growth of the vine. Mr. C. likewise says, "experience is the best teacher." That I 

 admit; and I must say that my experience teaches me never to use animal matter in 

 the formation of vine borders but in a decomposed state, then to be thoroughly incor- 

 porated with the rest of the material. This is the only way, in my ojtiuion, it can be 

 used with safety. 



" But," says Mr. C, " my vines have done well — they never have been troubled 

 with indigestion or dyspepsia." That may be true ; but they might have done better 

 if there had been no green animal matter in the border. We have here a living proof 

 of the truth of your note to Mr. C.'s letter, where you say that good grapes and heavy 

 crops can be obtained without dead carcasses. 



I must here state, that in April, 1851, we commenced the building of two vineries, 

 each 50 feet long. These are lean-to houses, with good flues, cisterns, and every 

 other convenience ; the front wall and the foundation of the flues being on arches, 

 giving the vines a space of 50 ft. by 30 ft. to grow in. The borders have been walled, 

 paved and drained; floor, 14 ft.; back wall, 16 ft.; front, 2 ft. — giving a rafter of 

 between 19 ft. and 20 ft. The borders are made as follows : the top spit from where 

 the houses now stand, which would be 1500 cubic feet of good maiden soil, about 

 tv/enty wagon loads of charcoal to each border, leached ashes, lime, rubbish, and stable 

 manure, with about twenty loads of leaf soil from the woods, the whole being Avell 

 incorporated. There is not a bone or any animal matter in these borders, and yet 



