18 THE FORCING GARDEN. 



be found, such parts being of a more intermediate con- 

 dition, and where the sun and air exert their influence. 



It will be found on examination that the roots of a 

 vine planted inside a house where the bed of the house 

 is made of the best material from the front to the 

 back, if the vines are planted at the front the roots will 

 crowd and cling to the front wall, and creep along the 

 wall in search of a way out and out they will get if 

 possible. And why ? Because they love the sun and 

 free air. Now go outside and carefully search the sur- 

 face of the ground an inch or two deep, and if the vines 

 have been planted, say, five, seven, or ten years, you 

 will find the fibrous roots twenty or thirty feet from 

 the main stem, a little under the surface ; and if there 

 should by any means be a common sewer, foul ditch, 

 pool, or anything of that sort near, it will be found that 

 the spongioles have dipped their mouths only, into the 

 contents just at the edges, unless they are half dry, or 

 nearly so, then they may be further advanced but, as 

 a rule, it will be observed that no really sound roots of 

 a hard and durable kind can exist in a deep mass of 

 rich fatty matter where no sun, heat, or oxidising air 

 can get to them. 



Moisture is absolutely necessary for the well-being 

 of the vine ; but to surcharge the tender fibre with it 

 will ultimately be its death. Besides, the mischief 

 will show itself in various forms such as mildewy 

 shanking of the berries, and, finally, general weakness. 

 I have lately had to do with some fine vines, twenty or 

 more years old, which are planted on a hill facing the 

 south. The soil is naturally poor, with a narrow vine- 

 border of about six feet or so wide. They are planted 

 outside, and next to the border comes a broad carriage 



