THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE, 41 



aclA^sed by John Rogers, editor of tlie Fruit Cultivator, pult- 

 lished in London, 1837. 



" An excellent vine border may be formed upon an imper- 

 vious dry bottom, two feet deep, and composed of liglit, ricli, 

 loamy earth, enriched with rotten manure, ground bones, and 

 lime. It is better to extend the border in breadth than in 

 depth." — Charles Mcintosh, London, 1839. 



Clement Hoare, in an after-edition of his work on the 

 Grape Vine, recommends that, for winter-forcing, the vines 

 be planted on the inside of the grapery, and, to do this prop- 

 erly, he says the soil should be removed from the mside of 

 the house, which is to be supported by a Avail of solid masonry 

 on all sides to prevent the roots of the vines penetrating it to 

 the outside. After the soil is removed, his plan is to pave 

 the ground A\"ith brick, set in cement, and this space is inter- 

 sected with brick Avork, Avith openings occasionally, for the 

 roots to penetrate and ramble. This brick work is to be a 

 support for the bricks Avhich are to cover the Avhole, after 

 completion. The substances, in Avhich the vines are to groAV, 

 are broken bricks, lumps of mortar, charcoal, and bones, in 

 equal proportions, soaked in urine. His idea is, that these 

 materials, once moistened and then placed in the situation 

 prepared as above, can never become diy ; that the moisture 

 of the earth will keep the whole mass sufficiently supplied 

 with water, and that it never can have an excess. In plant- 

 ing the Aines, the roots are to be carefully spread out, freed 

 from all soil. It is advised to have two pieces of woolen 

 blanket, which are to be first soaked in soap suds, to jilant the 

 vines in, — one to be spread on the bottom and the roots laid 

 on this, and the other to cover them ; Avhen this is done, cover 

 over Avith the compost above named, and, Avhen the Avhole is 

 paved over on the top, the work is complete. This, it will be 

 observed, is planting without a particle of soil. I have never 

 attempted to grow vines after this plan, and most surely shall 

 not ; still, it is to be presumed, occasionally, a plant may 

 succeed. Where the soil is very Avet, the plan, ^vith the ad- 

 6 



