202 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



The following remarks of Mr. Hovej, are the two articles 

 referred to : — 



" On the Formation of Vine Bo7'ders. By the Editor. — 

 The cultivation of the grape vine under glass is now at- 

 tracting much attention ; and many new vineries have been 

 erected in various parts of the country the last two years. 

 The formation of the border, certainly one of the most im- 

 portant objects connected with the successful management 

 and future welfare of the vines, is, therefore, considered as 

 deserving of every attention. Much has been written upon 

 this subject in each volume of our magazine, and we have 

 endeavored to present our readers with all the information 

 which could be of any value to the amateur or practical cul- 

 tivator. In our article in our last volume, (Vol. 13, p. 293,) 

 upon the growth of the grape vine in the greenhouse or con- 

 servatory, we gave a few hints upon the preparation of vine 

 borders, and remarked ' that a fine crop of grapes could be 

 obtained without all the quackery so often recommended in 

 their formation, such as a bed of oyster shells, or boiled 

 bones, dead horses, cattle, dogs, slaughter-house manure, 

 blood, soot, &c.' 



" Some of our practical friends, who have had some expe- 

 rience in the culture of the grape, have been somewhat sur- 

 prised to find we were not a firm believer in the great efficacy 

 of the very richest ingredients, such as dead animals, for the 

 formation of the border, and some have been almost disposed 

 to doubt whether our own success was not effected by some 

 such aid, contrary to our statement. To the former, we need 

 only remark, that we are more and more convinced, that the 

 employment of the carcasses of animals is of no benefit what- 

 ever, but rather an injury in the end ; and, to the latter, we 

 shall merely state that, whatever practice we recommend, we 

 invariably adopt, until experience assures us that it is founded 

 in error. 



" The subject of the preparation of vine borders has re- 

 cently attracted considerable attention in England, and vari- 



