BORDERS OR PREPARED BEDS. 57 



consequently free egress and plenty of room must cer- 

 tainly be essential, where the intention is to retain unin- 

 terrupted fertility for a long time ; beside which we ought 

 to consider the close proximity of the vines as they are 

 most commonly planted, and it then becomes still more 

 evident that we ought not to be penurious in this respect. 

 Our own recommendation is to make them ten feet wide 

 at the commencement, add five feet more the next season, 

 and five feet again the year following, making a total of 

 twenty feet, which will give ample space for a long time ; 

 but if success should attend the same stock some ten or 

 fifteen years, and the roots at the end of that time are 

 found so closely interwoven, as to be in want of more ex- 

 tension, it would be advisable to add another five feet, so 

 that in making first designs, it is well to forecast after ne- 

 cessaries. Many will, no doubt, think that this is a waste 

 of land that might be turned to advantage in other ways, 

 and others may not have so much ground at command foi 

 the purpose. As to the first objection, it may be answered 

 by the simple question of, what more paying crop can be 

 put on the added fifteen square feet that will be required 

 for each vine, than the increase of two or three pounds of 

 good exotic grapes, beside the benefit secured by retain- 

 ing the natural longevity of the plant, where considerable 

 capital has been invested at the outset in erecting a suita- 

 ble house. In the latter case there is the opportunity of 

 reducing the number of vines inside, and extending the 

 branches of those left so as to keep the whole roof covered, 

 thereby giving more root room individually. The very 

 common notion, that a grape vine, is so often worn out, 

 deserves to be classed with the things that Avere, — depend 

 upon it, if all its wants are duly supplied, and the house 

 substantially erected, a grapery may be left as a legacy 

 3* 



