THE MAGAZINE 



OF 



HORTICULTURE. 



FEBRUARY, 1848. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art I. On the Formation of Vine Borders. By the Editor. 



The cultivation of the grape vine under glass is no"w attract- 

 ing much attention ; and many new vineries have been erect- 

 ed in various parts of the country the last two years. The 

 formation of the border, certainly one of the most important 

 objects connected with the successful management and future 

 welfare of the vines, is, therefore, considered as deserving of 

 every attention. Much has been Avritten upon this subject 

 in each volume of our Magazine, and we have endeavored 

 to present our readers with all the information which could 

 be of any value to the amateur, or practical cultivator. In 

 our article in our last volume, (XIII, p. 293,) upon the growth 

 of the grape vine in the greenhouse or conservatory, we 

 gave a few hints upon the preparation of vine borders, and 

 remarked " that ajine crop of grapes could be obtained with- 

 out all the quackery so often recommended in their forma- 

 tion, such as a bed of oyster shells, or boiled bones, dead 

 horses, cattle, dogs, slaughter-house manure, blood, soot, &c." 



Some of our practical friends, who have had some expe- 

 rience in the culture of the grape, have been somewhat sur- 

 prised to find we were not a firm believer in the great efTicacy 

 of the very richest ingredients, such as dead animals, for the 

 formation of the border, and some have been almost disposed 

 to doubt whether our own success was not effected by some 

 such aid, contrary to our statement. To the former, we need 

 only remark, that we are more and more convinced, that the 

 employment of the carcasses of animals is of no benefit what- 

 ever, but rather an injury in the end ; and, to the latter, we 



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