40 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



must be made so bj draining. The best bottom, in my opin- 

 ion, is one formed of large fiat stones got from the top of a 

 lime rock, which is of a nature that would assist the growth 

 of the vines when they reached it. The border ought not to 

 be deeper than from two feet to three feet ; as, if it is more, 

 the roots of the vines will get away from the action of the 

 summer weather, and the good of the manure that may be 

 put on the surface. I would have the border formed of de- 

 composed turf and good black earth, with a sufiicient quantity 

 of decomposed cow dung, vegetable mould, and slaked lime, 

 well mixed by frequently turning it, and which should be al- 

 lowed to lie for two years, if convenient. 



" With regard to the surface manuring of the border, as 

 soon as the wood of the vine is fully ripe, it should be forked 

 over, about two inches deep, Avith a blunt dung-fork, and six 

 inches of the best cow dung should be put on. To supply 

 liquid manure for the border of one house, get one bushel of 

 common salt, as much black soap, and a quantity of the drain- 

 ings of stable yard dung, all put into a large cask, and allow 

 it to stand for a week ; after which, mix it with a large quan- 

 tity of rainwater, and put it regularly over the border ; then 

 put on as much common earth as will completely cover the 

 dung, but no more." — Loudon'' s Magazinc,\6[. 12th, p. 244. 



Mr. Loudon, in his Encyclopedia of Gardening, after quot- 

 ing the composts, as recommended by Speedily, Abercrombie, 

 McPhail, Nicol, Griffin, and Judd, adds these words : " The 

 depth of the border must be regulated, in all cases, by the 

 subsoil, and the climate. Where the former is moist, and the 

 latter is cold, the shallower the soil is the better ; on the con- 

 trary, where the subsoil is perfectly dry, and the climate hot, 

 as in the south of France, the depth may be unlimited." — 

 Article 3564, p. 778. 



For the composts for the grape border, as recommended by 

 Abercrombie, see soil used by him. Open Culture. 



" Fresh, light hazel loam, mixed with lime rubbish, leaf 

 mould, and a small portion of decayed hotrbed dung," is 



