Propagation of the Grape Vine. 125 



Nature's mode of feeding the roots of her vegetable ofFspiing, is by 

 her own deciduous fohage, from the surface of the ground, uliere 

 she jirepares her ahment by combustion, concoction and fihration ; 

 in cold latitudes concoction assists decomposition. In prepa;ing a 

 border, I would recommend eojual proportions of soil, manure, and 

 sand ; all subsequent manure must be from the top, according to na- 

 ture's rule. Stirring the earth often in warm weather is of great ser- 

 vice. Yours, Francis Hay. 



Charhstoim, March 6th, 1835. 



Art. III. On tJic Propagation of the Grape Vine; 7vifh Observa- 

 tions on its JMnnagcment, Priming, ^^c., in the Green-house and 

 Grapery, and the Formation of Vine Borders. By J. W. Russell. 



[Continued from page 97.] 



In preparing the vine border for the compost, it will be necessar}' 

 to remove the whole of the soil, to the depth of three feet ; but if the 

 sub soil is found to be of a strong clayey nature, two and a half would 

 be deep enough, rather preferring to increase the border in width, 

 than to go too deep, especially, when the bottom of the border is cold 

 and wet. Supposing the sub soil to be as just mentioned, I should 

 recommend the earth to be dug out, two and a half feet deep, by 

 fifteen feet in width, and also the building of a drain with rough stone, 

 the whole length of the border, to he taken through the centre, or 

 near to the front walk, remembering to give the bottom of the drain, 

 a gradual inclination to that end of it, where the superabundance of 

 water win be carried away. As to the dimensions of the drain, nine 

 inches or a foot in width, by the same in heighth, will be found to 

 answer very well ; but this can be regulated according to the mate- 

 rials intended to be used. There will be no necessity when building 

 the drains, to be particular in making close joints, as I should advise 

 it to be covered over witli fir shavings about six inches thick ; thev 

 will be the means of stopping the .soil from getting into the drain, 

 and at the same time allow the water to pass off freely. The bot- 

 tom of the border should be covered over six or eight inches thick, 

 with large and small stones ; the refuse of old walls and other build- 

 ings, or any other kind of course rubbish, will answer the purpose, 

 finishing oft' with gravel, and leaving the surface as level as possible. 

 This ought to be done in a thorough manner, because it is not one 

 of those operations that can be done over again, without great loss 

 of time, and considerable expense. There is liequently more pains 

 taken with the house to fruit the vine in, than with the border for the 



