THE GRAPE. 125 



with old mortar, rubbish, or anything that will drain 

 off the water ; as the grape always thrives best on 

 dry bottoms. When the border is thus prepared, it 

 will require to be filled with compost in the month 

 of September. 



Preparing the Compost -The compost, which 

 I have mostly found to answer the best purpose for 

 the vinery, is a mellow loam, well incorporated with 

 one third part of rotten manure, or, in order to have 

 a border prepared in a superior manner, the top sod 

 of a rich, loamy pasture may be taken off six inches 

 deep, and thrown into a heap with one third rotten 

 manure ; and if a portion of manure from a slaugh- 

 ter house is added, it will answer a good purpose. 



The compost may be thrown into the pit or bor- 

 der, where it may lay a month or two to get into a 

 state of fermentation, when it should be turned and 

 w r ell mixed as a manure heap. This may be done 

 two or three times in order to incorporate it well to- 

 gether. I would also recommend about 50 Ibs. of 

 sulphur to be mixed with the compost, the last time 

 of turning, which will destroy many insects detri- 

 mental to the vine, and act as a stimulant to it. 



Planting the Fines. In planting the vinery ev- 

 ery precaution should be taken to procure select 

 kinds of grapes of respectable nursery-men, who 

 can be relied on as to correctness. I have often 

 seen grape-houses furnished with ordinary sorts of 

 grapes, owing to injudicious selections, which have 

 been replanted at a great expense, and the loss of 

 two or three year's growth, which is considerable in 

 such cases. The vines for planting should be at 

 least two years old, and if raised from the eye the 



