24 INSIDE V. OUTSIDE VINE BORDERS. 



made up the first season, a similar portion is added the following year,, 

 and so on, until the required space is filled. 



A very good rule to go by, and one which gives a very fair propor- 

 tion, is that of making the width of the border equal to the width of 

 the house itself. Thus, for a house ten feet wide, a border ten feet 

 wide would be required ; and for a sixteen feet Vinery a sixteen feet 

 border, and so on. The border should in all cases be from two 

 to three feet in depth ; it should never be less than two feet, and 

 seldom more than three (see fig. 8). A shallow border is apt 

 to become too dry, and requires great care and attention as to 

 watering, and the keeping up of a proper degree of moisture ; whilst 

 a deep border is apt to get soddened, and for the roots to penetrate 

 beyond the solar influence. 



The roots of the Vine travel a long way in search of nourishment ; 

 there are instances of them having been found from sixty to a hundred 

 feet away, so that, although some limit must be fixed for the size of 

 the border, a greater extent would, of course, be no disadvantage. 

 Indeed, in most of the borders prepared in the ordinary way, where no 

 means have been adopted to confine or restrict the passage of the 

 roots, the greater portion of these latter have passed through all the 

 carefully prepared border into the outlying soil, and are thus beyond 

 the control of the cultivator, and outside the influence of his treatment. 

 Unless the natural soil of the place be conducive to the well-being 

 of the Vine, the roots should always be restricted to the prescribed 

 space that has been specially prepared for their well-being. 



Inside v. Outside Borders. Much discussion has taken place as to 

 the relative merits or advantages of having the Vine planted inside 

 with the roots inside or in borders outside the house. Inside borders 

 are specially under the control of the cultivator. The Vines growing 

 therein are in a degree as dependent on his careful attention and skill 

 as those growing in pots. Every particle of nourishment and moisture 

 has to be supplied. It is, therefore, manifest, that in cold, wet, low- 

 lying situations, in the hands of the skilful cultivator, there is much 

 to be said in favour of " inside borders " for early forcing and for very 

 late-keeping Grapes. The disadvantages are these : The great 

 amount of labour, etc., required in watering, and the skill and care 

 necessary in keeping up the requisite degree of moisture at the roots. 

 A scarcity of water, or a little neglect in its application, will ruin the 

 crop. On the other hand, outside borders require little attention in 

 regard to watering, being exposed to the ordinary rain, they only 

 require attention in very dry times. Many amateur cultivators never 

 think of watering their Vine borders, although frequently they 

 would be greatly benefited thereby. For the general crop of Grapes, 

 therefore, and for all ordinary cultivation where superior skill and 

 constant care cannot be administered, "outside" borders are far 

 preferable to " inside " ones. 



