On the Formation of Vine Borders. 55 



years to ferment, make the very best manure of this sort.' — 

 {Traite sur la Culture de la Vigne, i., 333.) 



" We will not say that these maxims are exactly applicable 

 to English Vine growing, we seeking fine bunches of grapes, 

 the French requiring juice of tine quality ; and we are, there- 

 fore, ready to concede the value of manure of a proper de- 

 scription. Nevertheless, although we fully grant this, we are 

 not the less of opinion that the effect of manure on Vines is 

 overrated, and we will take the liberty to quote Mr. Roberts' 

 own Eshton Grapes in our support. He says, 'it maybe in 

 your recollection, and in that of many of your readers, that a 

 collection of grapes was submitted by me. in Sept. 1841, to the 

 Horticultural Society, which was the produce of young Vines. 

 The borders in which they grew contained carrion, &c., as de- 

 tailed in my Treatise, and 2intil I find the specimens then sent 

 superseded^ I will still carry out and recommend the use of 

 carrion when it can be had.' We find that the weight of 

 grapes exhibited on this occasion, was as follows, one bunch 

 in each case. 



Cannon Hall Muscat 

 White Nice - - - _ 

 Black Hamburgh _ - - 

 Black Prmce - _ _ 



Black Damascus - - _ 

 Black Morocco - _ _ 

 And the bunches were beautiful. But we have also before 

 us the following memorandum, to be found in the 'Journal 

 of the Horticultural Society,' vol. ii., p. 303. 



'"On the 21st of August, 1847, the Vice-Secretary received 

 from Mr. Abel Lewis Gower, four bunches of grapes; one a 

 Muscat of Alexandria, weighing 2 lbs. 9 oz., and the others 

 Black Hamburghs, weighing respectively 2 lbs. 9 oz., 3^ 

 lbs., and 5 lbs. The Black Grapes were rather deficient in 

 color, but of very large size, and excellent quality.' 



" Now it will be observed, that the smallest of these bunches 

 weighed more than Mr. Roberts' Black Hamburgh, and the 

 largest more than tivice as much ! And how did Mr. Hutch- 

 ison, the gardener at Castle Malgwyn, obtain them? By 

 carrion or any such violent and disgusting materials ? Not at 

 all. He states that ' the compost used in the formation of 



