M 



148 ON THE PLANTING OF VINES. 



CHAPTER XV. 



ON THE PLANTING AND MANAGEMENT OF VINES IN THE 

 PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES OF TOWNS. 



[Note. This chapter has been added to the present edition, 

 for the purpose of promoting the culture of the Vine in the various 

 towns which are situated in the midland and southern parts of 

 England, the inhabitants of which are not, in general, aware, 

 that that valuable plant may be planted, trained, and fruited 

 against their houses and buildings with nearly as much facility 

 and success as in more favoured situations in the country. It is 

 true, that single vines may already be found, growing here and 

 there in most of the towns in the above-mentioned districts, not 

 excepting the metropolis itself; but the method in which they are 

 cultivated is such, as not only to render them very unsightly ap- 

 pendages to the buildings against which they are trained, but to 

 reward the cultivator with only a small portion of fruit, at the dis- 

 proportionate cost of a vast deal of time and trouble. To the ne- 

 cessary consequences of such a mode of culture, the fact may, no 

 doubt, be attributed, that the number of vines growing in those 

 situations is, comparatively speaking, so very small ; such exam- 

 ples being much better calculated to deter, than to invite imita- 

 tion. 



Vines, however, cultivated agreeably to the directions con- 

 tained in the foregoing pages, produce, annually, large quantities 

 of fruit, within a small extent of surface, and are, moreover, in 

 any situation, and especially in a public one in a town, exceed- 

 ingly interesting objects to behold in every season of the year. 

 And to the lover of nature, what sight can surpass that of a vine, 

 covered with its beautiful foliage, and laden with its elegant and 

 delicious fruit'? Even to those who reside in the country, and are 

 familiar with the beauties of the vegetable world, such a sight 

 scarcely ever fails to impart the highest gratification. But to the 

 inhabitants of a town, who seldom participate in any species of 

 horticultural enjoyment, what a source of pleasure would it not 

 be, to witness a portion of the surface of their dwellings covered 

 annually with fine crops of grapes? And who can contemplate, 

 throughout the progress of every returning season, the beautiful 

 elaborations of nature in the successive developement of the bud, 

 the leaf, the blossom, and the fruit of the vine, without emotions 

 of the purest gratification 1 



