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ON VINERIES. 



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state of health. In such a case, it is best to take them 

 out and make a new border, and replace them with well- 

 grown plants, as a great deal of time is lost in trying 

 to get the old vines into healthy condition. I am 

 here assuming that the plants are badly infested with 

 fungus. I have come to the conclusion that it is the wisest 

 plan to have the coverings for the borders always at 

 hand, ready for use when required. If care is 

 taken with the roots of the vine or any other plants, 

 great good must be the result, and perfection of growth 

 will be the issue. Those who have not much to do, 

 and plenty of assistance at command, may watch and 

 assist nature in such a way as would surprise the 

 greatest philosopher. 



It has been my fortune to find out by long experi- 

 ence, that good results cannot be expected unless 

 the cultivator studies with great care, and applies 

 his different manures in such a way that the various 

 constituents of the vine, or, in other words, the different 

 materials forming the food of the plant, are not too 

 much in excess of each other. Of course we know 

 turfy sods form the bulk of the vine border; but I par- 

 ticularly refer to the food of the plant in a condensed 

 form — the inorganic matter. A friend of mine had 

 once immense faith in the influence which the electricity 

 of the atmosphere exercised on the soil in which the vine 



grows. He assured me he was the cause of Mr. Philip 



23 



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