GRAPE VINES RAISED BORDERS. 255 



exclusively inside they rarely have water enough during growth, whilst in winter the 

 border may be soddened with the drip from plants in pots. The rain-fall in most 

 places and seasons is ample for outdoor vines, while with the border properly drained 

 and composed of suitable materials, there is little danger of an excess of moisture at the 

 roots from heavy rains. With the roots entirely inside there is danger of the vines 

 not receiving sufficient water and nourishment for the perfection of their crops. "We, 

 therefore, advise outside borders for greenhouse vines, also for all hardy-constitutioned 

 varieties that are not forced early, and from which the crops are removed by or before 

 Christmas. 



Except for early forcing, Muscats, and varieties of peculiar constitutions, the borders 

 should be partly inside and partly outside. This affords facilities for renovating them 

 without prejudice to the crops, reduces the need of water one half, and the roots have the 

 option of running in the warm inside or the colder outside border. In the early part 

 of the growing season the roots are the most active in the inside border, but later they 

 make the greatest progress in the outside one. If a vine is given the choice of an equal 

 extent of inside and outside border it prefers rooting in the latter. This is partly due 

 to the difference in the moisture, but in greater measure to the outside border having 

 the benefit of the sun's rays whilst the inside border is shaded. The covering of vine 

 borders with thick coatings of manure in winter and spring must be prejudicial. 

 Vine roots need air to continue healthy at least, air is needed for the proper assimila- 

 tion of plant food in the soil, and thick coverings of manure hinder the sun from warm- 

 ing the border, the roots of vines not becoming active until the soil has a mean tempera- 

 ture of 50. (See " Aerial Boots.") 



Upon the foregoing considerations we conclude 1, For early forcing Muscats and 

 Frontignans the roots should be confined to inside borders ; 2, midseason and late grapes, 

 except varieties of peculiar constitution, should have part inside and part outside border ; 

 3, midseason and late varieties of hardy constitution succeed in outside borders ; 4, where 

 the soil is mechanically right and the drainage thorough no special border is needed. 



Raised Borders. These are the means of securing perfect drainage, dryness, and 

 warmth in low-lying situations and cold, wet, clayey soils, Eetaining walls are necessary 

 for outside raised borders, and should bevel inwards to prevent bulging, the side wall be 

 1 foot lower than the front wall of the house so that the border will incline to the sun, 

 and all the walls have brick-on-edge capping built in cement. Burrs, clinkers, or stones 

 may be placed against the border in rockwork fashion instead of a retaining wall. The 



