CHAP. I ■ VILLA GAKDENING 311 



deterioration of leaf-growth. Assuming that the border when fully 

 made was 18 feet wide, I should prefer to have 6 feet inside the 

 house and 12 feet outside, and to make it piecemeal. The first 

 year I woidd make 3 feet inside and 4 feet outside. If well supplied 

 with water, and mulched to keep the roots near the surface, this 

 would be sufficient for two years. At the expiration of that time 

 I shoiUd add 3 feet more inside, and the same width outside, and 

 make the remainder when the vines needed more food. The border 

 must have a good dry fomidation, with a proper outfall for all water. 

 The depth of border depends upon circumstances. "Where the 

 subsoil is bad it will be better and cheaper to make it chiefly above 

 the surface, removing as much of the bad soil from the bottom as 

 may be necessary to let in a good foundation of concrete and a 

 layer of drainage on the top. The concrete should be 5 inches 

 thick, and be laid at a sufficient inclination to drain all surplus 

 moistiu'e to the front. When the concrete has had time to get firm, 

 place on the top of it 9 inches of brick rubble for drainage ; then 

 place a layer of sods, and on the sods 2 feet in depth of turfy loam, 

 such as can be obtained from the top 4 inches of any old sheep 

 pasture, with about 1 cwt. of bones to each cartload of loam, and 

 enough old lime or plaster to ensm'e porosity when the fibre shall 

 have moiddered to decay. Besides the chemical effect the lime and 

 the bones will have a considerable manure value. If any other 

 manure is given, let it be placed on the surface as a top-dressing 

 or mulching. Liquid manure will su2)ply the needfid support as 

 required, and a concentrated manm-e, such as guano or any of the 

 artificial kinds now so much used, will give increased strength and 

 vigour without clogging up the pores of the soil. The border may 

 be made any time except in the depth of winter. I should j^refer 

 to make it in March, and plant about May or June. If the top 

 spit of the pasture cannot be had, then make the border of the 

 best soil obtainable, adding the proportion of bones and old plaster, 

 employing stimulants according to judgment, and top-dressing early 

 in the season, to keep the roots in the ujDper stratum of soil. 



Raising the Plants. — This is mainly a proprietor's question. 

 If money is no object, two sets of vines may be planted, one set 

 being strong fruiting canes, specially prepared, and for which a 

 long price will be charged, though not extravagantly high, consider- 

 ing the value of the crop ; and the other set to be one-year-old 

 plants, which should be planted under the rafters, to stand as 

 permanent vines. The strong canes should be planted under the 

 centre of the lights, to produce an immediate crop of fruit ; probably 

 a second may be taken, and then they should be removed to make 

 room for the permanent vines beneath the rafters. In many cases 



