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up to suit the natural habits of the vine : how much 

 more, then, a 3 feet-deep border, in which decompos- 

 ing organic matter constitutes nearly one-half its 

 volume. Every body knows that this black and fatty 

 humus — for such it becomes by age — does not, in its 

 own nature, contain sand sufficient to ensure, at all 

 times, a speedy transmission of moisture, and to secure 

 permeability to the atmosphere, especially if buried 

 nearly a yard in depth. Now, although it is impos- 

 sible to correct the texture of the whole body of the 

 soil thoroughly without breaking it up, it is quite in 

 our power so to ameliorate its character as to ward of 

 the necessity of the latter expensive measures for 

 several years. The first thing to be done is to exa- 

 mine the whole course of the main drain, if there be 

 one ; if not, to establish one without delay. The 

 next is to take advantage if any gaps may exist in the 

 border, through the decay of old vines, and where, it 

 may be, one is about to be planted, and to introduce 

 in all such places cross drains, reaching from the 

 house frontage to the main, which we are supposing 

 runs parallel to the frontage, at the extremity of the 

 border. These cross drains should be well secured, 

 and filled, to within 9 inches or a foot of the surface 

 of the border, with open rubbly matter. If such 

 chances of introducing cross drains are not sufficiently 

 frequent, the next best plan is to open deep holes or 

 "pots" in every possible situation, without offering 



