FOKMATION OF VINE BORDERS. 67 



lated to give more than a mere temporary impetus 

 to the plants. The nature and action of manures will 

 form the subject of a future chapter, but we may here 

 state that bones, hair, woollen rags, leather clippings 

 and similar matters are by far the most suitable. For 

 the purpose of giving porosity to the soil, as well as 

 furnishing nutriment to the plants, nothing will be 

 found to equal chopped straw. Chaff, or sawdust 

 comes next in order, and from experiments which we 

 have made on the subject, we do not think the value 

 of the latter is half appreciated. To dead animals, 

 either whole or divided, we have never found any 

 objection, provided they were not placed in direct con- 

 tact with the roots of the plant, I^sTo danger is to be 

 apprehended of the vine seeking them to its own 

 detriment. But this more properly pertains to the 

 subject of manures. We will now give the manner 

 in which the most celebrated grape growers construct 

 their borders. 



Miller (1759) recommends good mellow soil with- 

 out any addition. 



Speechly (1790) states in his work : "As the vines 

 in the hot-house at "Welbeck have been remarkably 

 fruitful and vigorous, I shall beg leave to recom- 

 mend, the same kind of compost mold which I make 

 use of- there, viz. one-fourth part of garden mold, 

 (a strong loam) ; one-fourth of the sward or turf from 



