48 THE CULTURE OF THE GliAl'E. 



inches of broken bricks, lumps of old mortar, &c., ■\vitli a 

 little small on the top, on which I put a three-inch sod (grassy 

 side down,) to prevent the compost from getting down 

 amongst the bricks. The principal part of the compost con- 

 sisted of rich turfy loam, leaf mould, and rotten dung, Avith 

 lime rubbish and gravel to keep it open, and plenty of whole 

 bones and a little carrion to make it durable. — A /Subscriber:^^ 

 1847, p. 837. 



Renovation of Vine Borders. — After stating that these 

 must be legion, (if Ave may judge by the number of com- 

 plaints,) Avhich require this remedy, and that the cause 

 mainly is stagnation, it is recommended to enlarge or renew 

 the drains, Avhich are supposed to be inefficient or improperly 

 arranged, or to have become choked up by age. There is 

 added : " Now even a border made of loam, — unless Avhat is 

 termed sandy loam, — if two or three feet in depth, Avould be- 

 come in time too much closed up to suit the natural habits of 

 the vine ; Iioav much more, then, a three-feet-deep border, in 

 which decomposing organic matter constitutes nearly one half 

 its volume ! Every body knows that this black and fatty 

 humus, — for such it becomes by age, — does not, in its own 

 nature, contain sand sufficient to ensure at all times a speedy 

 transmission of moisture, and to secure permeability to the 

 atmosphere, especially if buried nearly a yard in depth," 



Here follow directions for introducing drains, and holes 

 filled with open " rubbly matter," &c., and then this advice : 

 " After these things are accomplished, it Avould be Avell to 

 fork in a dressing composed of lime rubbish, charcoal, coarse 

 sand, bones, &c., on the surface, not going deeper than six 

 inches, unless there are no roots in the Avay. Finally, the 

 border may be coated over Avith three inches of manure from 

 the stable door, if to spare. This, hoAvever, should only lay 

 from November until midsummer ; it might then be removed, 

 and an inch or tAvo of old vegetable soil or decayed linings 

 substituted in its room." 1847, p. 71. 



