214 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



were wlien planted, had it been placed within their reach ; 

 but it was not. In notices to correspondents, it has been 

 stated that my method of preparing borders was good, but 

 too much azotised,* The vine borders at Bishop's, Stortford, 

 are stated to be gorged with manure and fleshings of skin- 

 ners and tanners, and no caution is given regarding the too 

 free use of azotised manure, which is the basis of good culti- 

 vation. An immoderate use of such azotised manures, as a 

 thorough mixture through the soil, will be far more likely to 

 prove poisonous to vines in their infant state, and far more 

 injurious than any thing I have yet offered to the public as 

 essential to the good culture of the vine. But if I was not 

 able to add carrion, except in a very limited degree, at the 

 time my borders were made, I may mention that I fell in 

 with a goodly lot last winter, part of which has been added 

 as a top-dressing this autumn, and I intend in future to apply 

 it to that purpose. I am so cautious that the least particle 

 should not be wasted, that I hoard it up as a miser would his 

 gold. I hope the matter is here set at rest as regards car- 

 rion poisoning vines. ' On more recent inquiry,' says Mr. 

 EUiott, ' I was also informed that the death of the young 

 shoots was caused by the flue running four times through the 

 back wall.' All this Mr. Roberts denies. " I beg to tell 

 Mr. E., when my treatise appeared before the public, I had 

 proved the value of carrion, and I have been in the habit of 

 using it for twenty years back, the results produced by 

 which have been surprising and permanent." 



" My new borders are formed and composed of materials 

 nearly to my wish, with only two exceptions : there is too 

 little carrion with too great a portion of another constituent in 

 the soil, in excess, but I hope to be able to subdue this last to 

 my mind. With the above exceptions, I am convinced, from 

 what little I have made the habit of the vine my study, that 

 the border contains Avhat is required for its perfect develop- 



* Azote or nitrogen ; — this gas exists in all animal substances, and in such plants 

 as putrefy with an animal oilor, as cabbage and mushroom. 



