160 THE GRAPE CULTU11IST. 



grown. If they are of the latter kind, it is best that 

 they should be trailing plants, such as verbenas, portu- 

 laca, etc., as these spread over the soil and operate, in 

 a measure, as a mulch ; still, they absorb more moisture 

 from the soil than their shade assists in retaining. No 

 deep-rooted perennial plant should be planted near the 

 vine. Neither should large shrubs or trees be placed 

 where they will continually shade the ground, for the 

 roots of the vine, as well as the branches, require warmth. 



Position of Border. The position of the border 

 will depend somewhat upon that of the garden ; but any 

 exposure except a direct northern one will do, and even 

 this will answer, provided the place is not in the shade 

 more than half the day. The best position, however, is 

 upon the south side of a building, or high fence, or wall. 

 An eastern or western exposure will answer every pur- 

 pose, because the heat and light are far more intense in 

 such positions than in the open vineyard. 



Training the Vines. When the vines are grown 

 in large open gardens, where there is plenty of room, 

 the same general system of training may be followed 

 that has been given for the vineyard. The two-tier sys- 

 tem, as shown in Fig. 50, is preferable for garden cul- 

 ture to any of the others, except in more northern sec- 

 tions of the country ; then the oblique arm is the best. 



Circumstances, however, will often occur, when it 

 will be necessary to deviate somewhat from any of the 

 plans given, to better suit the particular location in 

 which we are obliged to plant. These variations may be 

 innumerable; still, if no fundamental principle is inter- 

 fered with, success is just as certain as though the plans 

 laid down were strictly followed. For instance, we have 

 endeavored to show that vines are more productive and 

 yield better fruit when trained horizontally than perpen- 

 dicularly ; but it will make very little difference whether 

 the arms are three feet long, or thirty, provided they 

 are not extended too far in any one season. 



