THE ROOTS OF GRAPE VINES. 187 



Greenhouses,Conservatories, &c., and in which, though 

 vines are frequently cultivated, they are generally 

 treated as subordinate to other purposes. 



In these houses, grapes not being the principal object, 

 the management of the vine is, in general, of an in- 

 ferior character. The roots of them are taken but lit- 

 tle account of, being generally planted outside in an 

 open border, and suffered to ramble about without any 

 attempt being made to bestow on them more favour- 

 able conditions of growth. 



Vines that are subjected to this description of glass 

 culture are brought under notice here, for the purpose 

 of suggesting, that if an improvement in their culture 

 be desired with reference to the better management of 

 their roots, it can easily be accomplished, by making a 

 bed of materials, such as has been already described, 

 and enclosing it in brickwork outside of the house. 

 This would be a decided improvement, and one that 

 would be far better calculated to insure the production 

 of good fruit, than any other that could be adopted, 

 while the roots are suffered to ramble about unrestrain- 

 ed in the open soil. Where, therefore, this improve- 

 ment is intended to be made, the roots should be care- 

 fully taken up at the proper season, and pruned back, 

 and then temporarily tied up in plenty of matting so 

 that the air cannot affect or injure them. The soil of 

 the border should be then excavated to the breadth of 

 about 8 feet, and to the depth of 2 feet, which is suf- 

 ficiently deep for an outside border. There are two 

 ways of enclosing the bed of materials that is to be 

 formed in place of the soil taken away, namely, 

 either with the surface of it paved with bricks, or with- 

 out it. 



If the surface is to be paved, then the brickwork 

 is to be done in precisely the same manner as that al- 

 ready described for the inside of a vinery, with the 



