MAKING THE BORDER 27 



grassy side down. This will prevent the soil from 

 getting into and choking the drainage. A border of the 

 depth and width indicated above, well filled with fibry 

 roots, is far preferable to a border of twice the width 

 and depth given and but sparsely furnished with roots, 

 as experience teaches us that such borders invariably 

 are. What the cultivator should aim at in the initial 

 stage of grape-growing is to secure a network of roots 

 in his vine borders and then to feed them well by giving 

 frequent good surface dressings of some approved artificial 

 manure, such, for instance, as Peruvian guano, during 

 the period the vines are swelling their crops ; laying on 

 the artificial immediately before applying water, so that 

 its virtues may be washed down to the roots as soon as 

 possible. This very desirable state of things is sure to 

 be attained by making the borders as recommended 

 above. The same slope to the south being given to the 

 surface of the border as advised for the base will enable 

 the soil to derive full benefit from the sun's rays the 

 sun-warmed surface attracting the roots thither into the 

 three or four inches of short manure which should be 

 laid on all front borders in the autumn and renewed in 

 the spring as a "mulch" or surface dressing. 



In the case of " lean-to" and " hip-roofed" vineries I 

 should prefer planting the vines in a strip of border 

 formed inside the house and extending about two feet 

 from the front wall, this being enclosed by a four and 

 a half inch brick wall, nine-inch piers being built into 

 this at intervals of nine feet for supporting the hot- 

 water pipes. The roots will speedily extend to the 

 outside border between the arches provided for the 

 purpose, and on which the front is built. 



In the case of span vineries, I have in my mind's eye 

 vineyards where there are several ranges of vineries 

 erected side by side on the pier system that is, where 

 half the rafters of each successive pair of houses spring 



