84 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



stagnation in the flow of the sap ; and this difficulty may be 

 increased, and the spread of the e\i\ promoted, by various 

 causes, — such as a poor border, general weakness of the 

 vines, overcropping, and chiefly by not paying due care to 

 the ventilation of the house. Wliere the person in charge of 

 the grapery has command of artificial heat, by following, to 

 the letter, all the directions as given by me for the culture 

 of this fruit, and constantly causing the temperature of the 

 grapery to be as directed, he will have little to apprehend 

 from this trouble. 



If it is intended to plant vines, to be trained on the back 

 wall, the soil, on the inside of the house, must be prepared, 

 as directed for the border on the outside. 



If figs are to be planted, the same border is recommended. 



Peaches do not require a rich border, and, for them, the 

 natural soil will be suitable. 



To improve a poorly made, or exhausted border, in a house 

 already built, where the vines do not succeed well, the follow- 

 ing process is recommended as best adapted to cure the 

 original defect : — 



In the spring, have the border covered with two or three 

 inches of lime rubbish, or oyster shells ; let this be forked 

 into, and well mixed with, the soil ; after this, have the whole 

 border covered, two feet deep, with fresh stable manure, — 

 the newer the better ; the object being to cause a strong heat 

 above the roots of the vine, thus dra-wdng them to the surface. 

 This should remain on the border two months, when it may 

 be removed. It is probable, the young roots will have pene- 

 trated the border, and be growing in the under part of the 

 manure ; if so, these must not be injured, for, if they should, 

 the benefit expected from the operation would be lost ; when 

 it is found that this is the case, that part of the manure must 

 remain on. After removing the manure, the border should 

 have a top dressing of three or four inches of well decom- 

 posed cow or hog-pen manure. 



