ON SOIL. 51 



face about the ninth or tenth year. In this situation 

 they receive an extraordinary increase of solar heat, 

 the very life and soul of all vegetation, and being, more- 

 over, near the surface, they can be nourished with 

 liquid manure, to any extent that may be considered 

 necessary. These surface roots ought, therefore, to 

 be taken great care of and encouraged by all possible 

 means, as being amongst the most valuable of any be- 

 longing to the vine, and as contributing in a high de- 

 gree to improve the flavour of the fruit, and to insure 

 its ripening, even in the most unfavourable seasons. 



The border, therefore, after it is once made, ought 

 never to be stirred but at intervals, when necessary to 

 prevent the surface of it from becoming a hard imper- 

 vious coat. On such occasions it should be carefully 

 forked to the depth of a couple of inches, which will 

 keep it sufficiently loose and open, to receive the full 

 influence of the sun and air. Whenever weeds ap- 

 pear, they should be hoed up, or plucked by the hand 

 immediately. In fine, the border should be kept sacred 

 from the intrusion of any other plant, tree, or vegeta- 

 ble production whatsoever, and be solely devoted to 

 the growth and nourishment of the roots of the vines. 

 Here, before concluding these remarks upon soil, it 

 is necessary to observe, that although the foregoing 

 directions with respect to soil, the preparation of bor- 

 ders, &c. will, if followed, ensure the prosperous growth 

 of vines, and the annual production and maturation 

 of fine crops of grapes, and are therefore highly de 

 serving of being practically adopted at all times when 

 circumstances permit, yet it must not, therefore, be 

 supposed, that vines will not grow and mature fine 

 fruit, unless planted in well-prepared borders. Quite 

 the contrary is the fact, for vines will do well in any 

 unprepared soil, that is not too stiff, and that has a dry 

 bottom, but they grow quicker, and consequently bear 



