CULTURE OF THE VINE. 3 



vinery should, when the border is entirely finished, be exactly 

 on a level with the interior flooring; and that being the 

 criterion as to the height, the necessary calculations for the 

 depth required to render it so must be made before the founda- 

 tion of the border is commenced, and the ground should be 

 prepared accordingly, always remembering to preserve from the 

 beginning the proper declivity, not less than eighteen inches 

 from the house to the front of the border, and to have the 

 surface of the ground quite smooth before laying the foundation 

 over it, which must be done as follows : Spread concrete to 

 the depth of four inches, and when sufficiently hard, upon that 

 put eight inches of brickbats; and next form a drain, extending 

 along the front edge of the border, to receive and carry off all 

 superfluous moisture. Having completed this portion of the 

 process, place two layers of sods, each to be about fourteen 

 inches long, one foot wide, and six or seven inches thick ; cut 

 from pasture which has been lying undisturbed for some years, 

 and which ought to be of a fibrous, rich, loamy substance; not 

 too retentive of moisture, but yet of that adhesive nature termed 

 " strong loam." The great recommendation is for the soil to 

 contain much of the fibrous matter, for the twofold reason, 

 that it prevents the soil from becoming sodden, as well as 

 giving nourishment to the vine-roots, as the grass and other 

 vegetable matters decay. It is not, however, possible at all 

 times to follow out this rule, as every locality has its own 

 peculiar soil, varying in density and colour ; therefore much 

 must be left to the judgment of the cultivator. Arrange each 

 sod with the grass-side downwards, for the hollow spaces 

 formed between the layers, as well as assisting the drainage, 

 will prove beneficial to the roots. The remaining depth of the 

 border should be filled up with the following compost : two 

 parts of rough turfy loam, similar in quality to the sods placed 

 below, and cut in pieces two or three inches square ; one part 

 of well-decomposed farmyard manure, and the remaining fourth 

 part composed of equal quantities of droppings from the sheep- 



