172 PLANTING AND MANAGING 



filled up with more materials, taking particular care 

 to place them close round the inner end of the hole 

 containing the shoot of the vine, so as to prevent the 

 entrance of mice or any other unwelcome intruders. 

 The hole on the outside, also, should be filled with 

 moss, which will give it a more sightly appearance 

 than if left open, and likewise protect the roots during 

 their first growth. 



6th. The remaining courses of brickwork may now 

 be laid in succession, and the materials filled in as the 

 work proceeds. When the column is built up within 

 three courses of its intended height, and the materials 

 filled in exactly even with the brickwork, a course of 

 whole bricks must be laid over the entire surface^ 

 taking care that those which rest on the materials are 

 not to be laid on mortar, but merely jointed with it. 

 This course being finished, the last two are to be 

 formed with whole bricks laid flush with the outside, 

 and with their inner ends slightly sloping towards 

 the centre of the column, which will cause all the 

 rain that falls on them to run towards it and fall into 

 the sunken hollow space that will be there formed by 

 this circular ring of brickwork. The circular space, 

 which will be about 18 inches in diameter, and 6 

 inches deep, is intended as a receptacle for all the rain 

 that falls on the surface of the top of the column, 

 which will filter through the single thickness of the 

 bricks, forming the bottom of the hollow space, and 

 thence be distributed by absorption throughout the 

 whole mass of the enclosed materials, thereby supply- 

 ing that moderate degree of moisture to the roots of 

 the vine, which contributes so advantageously to its 

 nourishment and support. 



The column will now be complete. The sunken 

 space at the top of it may, if desired, be filled with 

 mould ; and mignonnette, or any other annual flower 

 of suitable growth, may be grown in it, and which, 

 hanging pendently over the edge of the column, will 

 present a very graceful appearance. 



The pruning and training of the shoots of the vine 



