CULTURE OF GRAPE VINES UNDER GLASS. 313 



terials for the " border. " The usual rule laid down is, 

 to take of the top spit (or spade's depth), from an old 

 pasture, as the main material of the border say three 

 parts; lime rubbish, charcoal, scrapings from a paved 

 street, or oyster shells broken up, one part ; rotted stable 

 manure one part, with perhaps one ton of crushed bones 

 added to every twenty tons of this border compost. 

 Something depends upon the soil of the pasture fi-om 

 which the top spit is taken; if it is a heavy, adhesive loam, 

 more in proportion of the lime rubbish or street scrapings 

 should be added, as it is all important that when the or- 

 ganic substances of the manure or fibers of the sod are 

 rotted away, that the material forming the border should 

 not become sodden or solid, so that it would be retentive 

 of water and impervious to air. For this reason, when 

 choice can be made, the pasture from which this turfy top 

 spit is taken, should be of ashaly or calcareous character. 

 If the whole material for the border can be prepared a 

 year before using so much the better; let it be repeated- 

 ly turned so as to mix the different ingredients thorough- 

 ly. This is not indispensable, however, as we have often 

 used the compost fresh with nearly as good results. 



THE EXCAVATION FOR THE BORDER 



should be made from 16 to 20 inches deep, and of the 

 width of the grapery itself ; that is, if the grapery is a 

 span roof, 20 feet wide the border on each side should 

 not be made less than 10 feet wide to begin with and in 

 two or three years should be extended to double that 

 width. If the house is a " lean to, " 15 or 20 feet outside. 

 For a span roof, make it the same distance on each side 

 outside. Above everything, it is indispensable that this 

 excavation be thoroughly drained it should be formed 

 so that the bottom slopes about one foot in twenty to the 

 outside of the border, and there a drain should be placed of 

 sufficient capacity as to quickly carry off all surplus from 



