22 



JOURNAL OP HORTICUXiTUEE AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB. 



[ January 8, 1867. 



weight of 3J lbs. These were sound to the centre, and when 

 baked, camo out of their skins sparkling like powdered sugar. 

 They were produced from large Potatoes plauted whole and 

 wide, and when turned out the soil looked as if it had been 

 literally paved with Potatoes of enormous size, and there was 

 scarcely a single tuber that could be called small. — D. Tuojison. 



MAKING VINE BORDERS. 



After reading the article by "ViTis"on the construction 

 of Vine borders at page 420 of the last volume, I thought it 

 was really requisite for some one of experience in the matter to 

 make a few remarks as quickly as possible, for what " Vms " 

 says is calculated to lead people sadly astray, and it is pro- 

 bable that any one about to make Vine borders will be proceed- 

 ing with the work at once. Therefore, without any apology, I 

 offer the following remarks. 



In the first place, I consider it exceedingly presumptuous on 

 the part of " Vitis " to refer to the system proposed by a prac- 

 tical man like Mr. Wills in the jeering way that he does, thus 

 endeavouring to detract from the merit of that method which 

 is not only undeserving of condemnation, but than which, 

 when the exact proportions of the materials are stated, it is 

 impossible to imagine a more correct mode of making a Vine 

 border where the question of expense is no consideration. I 

 do not suppose Mr. Wills for one moment thought his method 

 would meet the requirements of such men as " Vitis." If 

 " Vitis " bad politely requested Mr. Wills, stating his means 

 and the object in view, I have no doubt Mr. Wills would have 

 had much pleasure in giving instructions as perfect in their 

 ■way as the plan which he has already laid down. 



With regard to the depth of the border described by Mr. 

 Wills, his provision for airing it and its being composed of 

 such open materials sufficiently remove all objections on that 

 score, especially if it be made 2 feet C inches above and the 

 same depth below the ground level, seeing that a foot or 

 1.5 inches of the lower portion consists of drainage, so that the 

 layer of turf forming the bottom of the compost will be only 

 15 inches below the ground level. This, with perfect drainage, 

 will, I am quite satisfied, protect the mass of compost from be- 

 ooming dank or unhealthy for the roots of the Vines in any 

 part. 



I am no advocate for applying bottom heat to Vine borders 

 in the usual way with hot-water pipes, but I cannot see any- 

 thing but what is right in the way in which Mr. Wills pro- 

 poses to apply it, the object being merely to keep up a circula- 

 tion of air around the mass of compost. 



After very extensive experience in the formation of Vine 

 borders, I can with confidence strongly recommend Mr. Wills's 

 plan to all who do not mind going to the expense. I am sure 

 Mr. Wills must have bestowed much thought on the subject, 

 and I am sorry he did not make calculations, which I have no 

 doubt he is well able to do, showing the exact pro.portions of the 

 materials used, as his doing so would have prevented sharp 

 people, who are always ready to point out errors in such a nice 

 way, having the opportunity of doing so. I beg to propose that 

 Mr. Wills shall be allowed to make a chapter of remarks on 

 his own article, to give bim an opportunity after more mature 

 deliberation of adding and supplying whatever may be deficient, 

 so as to make it perfectly plain to the most ignorant on the 

 subject. I maintain that the article is a good one, and worth 

 bringing prominently forward so that it may be made perfect. 



A few words more respecting the depth of the border. I have 

 found that it is not right to water Vines after the fruit begins 

 to colour, which process lasts about one month, and if the 

 Grapes are wanted entirely for private use it may be a month 

 or two more before the crop is cleared off, during which time 

 the Vines should have no water poured on the roots. As 

 Vines thrive best in very open material, three months, with the 

 shallow borders made entirely inside, and composed of open 

 materials, is too long for the roots to be without water in, it 

 may be, the hottest three mouths in the year : hence my reason 

 for recommending the deep border, which will retain moisture 

 sutlicient for the Vines until water may be applied after the 

 crop is cleared. I would not make the deep border on any 

 account without the provision for airing it. 



With regard to the method of making a Vine border described 

 by " Vitis," there is one tbiug aloue in it that in nine cases 

 mit of ten would lead to nothing but disappointment and labour 

 in vain. I do not mean to say there would be no Grapes, 

 but in most cases the Vines, if used for early forcing, would Le 



backward at breaking, come on slowly, and at the best be only 

 middling when finished. 



How this state of things would be brought about is soon 

 told. The roots of the Vines would go down not only many 

 feet, but 3'ards, out of the influence of the atmosphere, either 

 natural or artificial. 



One February I planted some Black Hamburgh Vines, and 

 forced and fruited them the second season. The border was 

 made entirely inside the house on a good floor composed of two 

 layers of bricks grouted in mortar, and was about 3 feet deep. 

 It was composed of fifteen parts of the very best turf from an 

 old pasture, three parts of old lime rubbish, two parts of an ex- 

 cellent quality of sand, as the turf was destitute of sand, but 

 neither heavy nor light, and one part crushed bones, with a 

 little nicely-prepared horse-droppings, just sufficient to make 

 the roots start boldly. It was not hunger that drove the roots 

 from home, yet the Vines during the second season perplexed 

 me sorely, for in many respects they showed indications of 

 their roots having gone down into wrong quarters, which I 

 could scarcely believe to be possible. At the end of the second 

 season the Vines were lifted and removed to another house. I 

 was astonished to find that the roots had found their way 

 through the floor at the bottom, and I traced them 9 feet down 

 below the level of the floor, and then cut them of the thickness 

 of my finger ; how much further they went I do not know. 



What I want to impress upon the minds of those who aro 

 looking out for instructions in the making of Vine borders, is 

 that they should make sure of preventing the roots from 

 rambling away from the prepared border, and how difficult 

 this is to accomplish ; and if they are not willing to go to the 

 expense of doing this, to let it alone altogether. I recommend 

 them not to be satisfied with anything less than the foUswing 

 carefully executed. 



After the necessary preparations are completed for laying 

 the floor, which should be made before any brickwork con- 

 nected with the structure is commenced, scrape together in 

 heaps 2 inches of the material forming the bottom, and 

 saturate it with coal tar, which may be procured at a trifling 

 expense from the gas works, if any such exist in the neigh- 

 bourhood — if not, use another material destructive to the 

 roots of the Vine. Mix the whole well together, let it lie a few 

 days, then spread it all over the bottom again, and upon this 

 place close together a layer of brickbats, or any other material, to 

 the thickness of 3 or -1 inches. The man when putting this 

 down must have a board upon his own work to stand upon ; the 

 substance under the layer should be so stiff that it will not 

 ooze up when trodden upon. Next grout the layer all over 

 with mortar so stiff that it will not work up the tar on being 

 spread and brushed about with a broom ; then let it remain a 

 few days to dry and harden. The boundary walls and all the 

 walls connected with the structure must have their foundation 

 upon this floor, or if brought from below must have a layer of 

 slates at this level. The boundary walls from the level of the 

 floor must be made so that the roots may have no chance of find- 

 ing their way through. This may be effected by means of 

 slates put in the middle of the wall, or by leaving a cavity to 

 be filled with a layer of the material used for the bottom of 

 the floor. This may appear to be an unnecessary precaution, 

 but I have found it quite requisite. I have known the roots 

 of Vines go through a floor composed of two layers of bricks, 

 and two brick walls besides, hence my reason for applying 

 something more than ordinary brickwork to secure them, and 

 never in my experience have I lifted Vines without finding that 

 they had wandered away from the prepared border. I do not 

 think Muscats can be grown to perfection without this precau- 

 tion, but with it, and covering the outside border, they may 

 be fruited as perfectly as the Black Hamburgh— that is, they 

 may be made to produce bunches as full and regular in the 

 berry and finely ripened, the berries being of an enormous size. 



" ViTis's" experience of Vine-growing leads him to think 

 that under any circumstances a little drainage is ail that is re- 

 quii-ite, then again he speaks of the border being trodden upon 

 until it is quite hard. To say the least of it, this is a very loose 

 style of gardening to set before the pubUc. — A Gardiskee. 



At page 481, in your Journal of December 25th, a writer who 

 signs his paper " Fokwards " states he has rtad Mr. Pearson's 

 little book on the Vine, in which he reccmmeuds green turf, 

 which he says from many soils would make the worst possible 

 Vine border. I have referred to the work in question, and 

 find the passage stands thus :— " The soil for Vines should bo 

 light and porous, and moderately rich, and is better for ccn- 



