8 THE FLORAL WORLD AND GARDEN GUIDE. 



nine inches, and the concrete three inches, making altogether four 

 feet. 



When the soil is taken out, the bottom of the excavation should 

 be made quite level and firm, and then a layer of concrete of the 

 thickness mentioned above, spread over it, and made quite level on 

 the top. The concrete is prepared by incorporating together newly 

 slaked lime and rough gravel, and working it up into the consistency 

 of mortar. After this is spread over the surface, allow it to become 

 dry and hard, and then proceed to fill in with rough pieces of stone 

 or broken bricks to a depth of nine inches, to form a drainage for 

 carrying off the superfluous moisture quickly. As an additional 

 precaution against the border becoming waterlogged, a pipe drain 

 may be laid down, as shovrn in the diagraras. 



Over the rubble lay thin strips of turf, or some loose material 

 such as partly decayed manure, to keep the soil in its place until it 

 has become consolidated somewhat. The compost most suitable for 

 grape vines may be prepared by incorporating together six parts 

 good turfy loam taken from an old pasture or common, to a deptli of 

 nine inches, two parts of lime rubbish, and one part of partly- 

 decayed horse-droppings. The addition of one part, or even less, 

 of crushed bones to seven parts of the mixture will be an advan- 

 tage, but they may well be dispensed with, as good grapes can be 

 grown without them. It must also be borne in mind that if good 

 turfy loam cannot be obtained without difiiculty, good garden soil 

 may be used instead, and one-third more lime rubbish, and double 

 the quantity of horse-droppings employed. It will also be well to 

 add, that if the soil is comparatively light, the concrete and drainage 

 may also be dispensed with. 



The width of the border may range from eight to fourteen feet, 

 but the proper width of the border is shown in the figures of the 

 houses which accompany these remarks. It remains to be said that 

 the soil should be allowed a fortnight or so to settle before the vines 

 are planted. 



PIANTING TINES. 



"We now come to the question of planting the vines. Amateurs 

 who have to purchase vines should plant when they are at rest. 

 Summer planting has its advantages, and may be adopted with 

 success where the vines are ready to hand. But when the vines are 

 at rest they can be sent home from the nursery without any risk 

 of their being injured, and planted when most convenient. In 

 cases where the border is outside, as in Tig. 1, the vines must be 

 planted outside, and the canes brought through the wall in the 

 manner indicated. In other cases they should be planted inside, 

 between the front wall and the hot-water pipes. Medium- 

 sized vines coat from three shillings and sixpence to five shillings 

 each. As soon as the border is ready for planting, turn them out 

 of the pots, remove the crocks, and then loosen the roots round 

 the outside of the ball, and in filling in the soil about them, take 

 care to spread them out carefully, and to press the soil firm. Three 

 inches or so of the cane should be buried, to encourage the production 

 of new roots from it. After the planting is completed, prune them 



