FORMATION OF VINE BORDERS. 71 



the sward is half decomposed), in the form of a potato 

 hod, close covered in with soil, and never turned ; one 

 part, the turf with four inches of the soil, of a looser 

 texture laid up for the same period, and not turned, 

 as before ; an eighth part scrapings of the highways 

 formed from limestone, or other hard material ; and 

 the other eighth part, half decomposed horse or cow 

 clung. I am not an advocate for turning over and 

 mixing the materials promiscuously together, as, by 

 often turning, the compost becomes too solid, losing a 

 great portion of its fertilizing property by such re 

 peated intermixture ; and unless it be of a very sandy, 

 loose texture, the border will, in a few years, become 

 impervious both to water and to atmospheric air, 

 which are of incalculable benefit to the growth of the 

 vine. I would recommend the autumn, if the weather 

 be dry, to prepare to fill in your border. 



&quot;A month previous to filling your border, provide a 

 quantity of carrion, cattle dying by accident, disease, 

 etc., which I am sorry to say, has, of late years, 

 been too common an occurrence. If you have col 

 lected it some time before hand, have it cut into small 

 pieces and laid up in soil till the time of using. It 

 em-its a very nauseous effluvia, but this must be borne, 

 for this is the pabulum to produce the nectar of 

 Bacchus, When all is ready, and the weather favor 

 able, proceed at one end of your border, wheeling in 



