THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 49 



Vine Borders. — By James Duncan, Basing Park, Alton. 

 " I am now forming a border for the growth of this plant. I 

 employ a two-horse cartload of dead lime rubbish, with which 

 some brickbats are mixed, and a sack of half-inch bones, (for 

 each vine,) well incorporated with a loam of very thin turf, 

 taken from an old common ; the whole is covered over with 

 six inches of road scrapings, with which some charcoal will be 

 mixed when the vines are planted. The border, when fin- 

 ished, Avill be about two and a half feet in depth, and sixteen 

 feet in width, resting on a substratum of flint stones, sloping 

 from the house, and two feet in thickness, so as to afford 

 effectual drainage ; and this I consider a most essential point 

 in the formation of vine borders." 1847, p. 205. 



Vine Borders. — By Robert Greenfield, gardener, Tyne- 

 mouth House, Northumberland. " The bottom of the border 

 is chalk ; on this is laid one foot of rubble stones, and, upon 

 this, the compost of rotten turf, from a common which has 

 lain undisturbed for fifty years." 1847, p. 358. 



" All vine borders, whether early or late, should be in- 

 stantly covered a foot deep, if possible, with rotting manures ; 

 this will intercept the departure of the remaining ground heat, 

 and will contribute much to the fertility of the vines in the 

 ensuing year. Vines for early forcing, with outside roots, 

 Avill soon be benefited by a slight amount of fermentation in 

 the border covering." Oct. 20th, 1847, p. 720. 



Remarks on the Cultivation of the Vine. — By James 

 Hutchinson, Gardener at Cranston Hill, near Glasgow. 



After some remarks relative to spur and other systems of 

 pruning the vine, this writer goes on to recommend the long 

 cane system as the best. As I have explained this plan fully 

 and stated the objections to it, I shall not repeat here his re- 

 marks, but shall give what he says relative to the temperature 

 of the house and border where the vines are to be forced. 

 In my opinion, they are Avell worthy of careful attention. 



" I commence forcing about the end of February, or be- 

 ginning of March; previously to which, I cover the vine 

 7 



