136 ON THE PLANTING OF VINES 



first ten years, after which that space can be enlarged 

 as circumstances may require. This being done, the 

 covering, that is hereafter described as necessary to 

 be placed over the stem, must be made to come down 

 at the bottom, in close contact with the surface of the 

 pavement, and to include within it the whole of the 

 space above-mentioned, so that no part of it shall be 

 visible on the outside. Then, round the bottom of 

 the covering, where it meets the pavement, work in a 

 little mortar or cement of some description, so as to 

 prevent the possibihty of any fluid of a destructive 

 nature being introduced to the stem or roots of the 

 vine. These precautions, with respect to vines plant- 

 ed in the public thoroughfares of towns, will be 

 found indispensable, as the roots of them would other- 

 wise be constantly liable to be injured by careless or 

 mischievous persons. 



As soon as the vine is transplanted, (assuming the 

 site to be an open one, and in a public thoroughfare,) 

 its stem must be protected by a covering being put 

 over it to such a height from the ground as will en- 

 sure its preservation from injury. Perhaps the best 

 description of covering for this purpose will be one 

 made of three slips of wood of the required height, 

 and each about four inches in breadth, and put to- 

 gether so as to form three sides of a square, the sur- 

 face of the wall to be enclosed by them, forming the 

 fourth side. The stem of the vine being enclosed in 

 this covering, the latter must be secured to the wall 

 in such a manner as to admit of its being opened 

 when required, for the purpose of divesting the stem 

 of its decayed bark, which operation ought to be per- 

 formed at the autumn of every third year. If a shoot 

 at any time grow out of the naked stem, it must be 

 rubbed off immediately it appears. As soon as the 

 stem is thus enclosed, it should be nailed firmly to 

 the wall just above the top of the covering, but no 

 fastening of any description should be put round that 

 part of the stem that is within the covering. The 

 vine being thus protected, will not require any further 

 attention during the winter. 



