DRAINAGE OF VINE BORDERS. 25 



A very common practice is to form the borders both outside and 

 inside, the front wall being erected on arches, so that the Vines which 

 are planted inside may have liberty for their roots to go either way. 

 It has often been noticed in cases of this sort how great a per centage 

 of the roots are to be found in the outside border, that being generally 

 the moister of the two. It is a fact worthy of notice that the greater 

 portion of the ravages committed by the Phylloxera in this country 

 have been in dry inside borders, the insect having seldom if ever 

 been found in the more moist soil outside. This, if not testimony 

 exactly in favour of outside borders, at least points to the suppres- 

 sion of this great pest, the Phylloxera, by the application of water. 



Drainage. This is one of the most important operations in the 

 formation of a Vine border, and one that, in some situations, entails a 

 considerable amount of expense and trouble to render it efficient. It 

 is a point that always must be taken into consideration in selecting 

 the position for a Vinery, for if the soil cannot be drained freely and 

 easily, the site is not a proper one for the cultivation of Grapes. Since 

 Vines will not succeed well in a low, damp situation, it is best to 

 choose for them a rather high position, though not necessarily an 

 exposed one ; on a gentle incline, it may be, where the work of 

 drainage will be almost accomplished. Many gardens with gravelly 

 subsoil, even if on the level, are well drained naturally, and so require 

 little preparation ; but it is not well to trust much to the natural 

 conditions, though they are apparently favourable. It is better to 

 take all ordinary precautions at the first, rather than to run any risks, 

 and then, after several years of loss and disappointment, to have all 

 the work to do over again. 



In every case, therefore, a considerable amount of draining material 

 should be placed over the whole surface of the bed of the border say 

 from one to two feet or more in depth, according to the breadth of the 

 border, the nature of the subsoil, etc. At the back of the border, for 

 example, we should place a depth of two feet of drainage, allowing 

 it a slope to eighteen inches at the front, where a drain twelve inches 

 lower still should be formed, to carry off all superabundant moisture. 

 The best material, generally very accessible, for the drainage of a Vine 

 border will be found in old brick and lime rubbish, the rougher and 

 larger pieces being placed at the bottom, finishing with the finer on 

 the top, these forming a barrier which prevents the soil being washed 

 down amongst the drainage materials. 



In cold, wet, clayey soils, it is advisable to place a layer of concrete 

 over the bottom of the border. This will prevent the damp from 

 rising, and cut off any possibility of the roots descending ; but even 

 in this case it is still advisable to place over the concrete the bed of 

 brick-rubbish, as already recommended. The beneficial effect of 

 drainage is not alone that of drawing off the superfluous moisture, but 

 the consequence of this being done is to raise the temperature of the 



