384 Treatment and Management of the Vines. 



about it which is pleasing, and the general effect is more in 

 harmony with architectural beauty than the usual flat roofs 

 with sliding sashes. 



We now close our remarks, which have necessarily become 

 rather extended, with Mr. Russel's article on the Manage- 

 ment of the Vines. 



TREATMENT OF THE VINES FROM 1841 TO 1846. 



The Grapery at Nonantum Hill was built in the year 1840, 

 and the Vines planted the spring following. In order to give 

 as accurate an idea as possible of their treatment and man- 

 agement, from the commencement to the present time, I 

 shall begin with the making of the Vine border, as it is un- 

 doubtedly of the greatest importance ; for it matters not, how- 

 ever well the House may be constructed, if the pasturage for 

 the roots does not supply them with an abundance of whole- 

 some food, the result, most assuredly, will be a failure, for the 

 skill of the cultivator cannot make up for this deficiency. 



Prcj)aration of the Border. — The border, in the present in- 

 stance, I cannot speak positively about, as it was made before 

 I took charge of the grapery ; but, from its appearance, and 

 what I can learn, I should say that the compost consists of 

 good soil, bones and oyster shells. The grape border that I 

 should prefer, and which is all that need be desired for this 

 purpose, is the surface sod of an old pasture that has been 

 stocked with sheep and neat cattle for years : this should be 

 dug up six inches in thickness, six months before making the 

 border, and piled up, grass side down, into a long ridge, or 

 any other shape, so as only to exclude the air from the grass as 

 much as possible. Before it is wanted for die vines, let the 

 whole be well turned over and broken up with a spade, and 

 it will be in the very best condition for the roots to take hold 

 of. Bones may be mixed with tlie compost if easily to be pro- 

 cured. If the subsoil is moist or springy, eight or ten inches 

 of rubbish from old buildings, or of stone, with a layer of 

 brush wood on the top, with a drain in front to carry off any 

 superabundance of water, would be a suitable preparation at 

 the bottom of wet borders. 



Dimensions of the Border. — The border of the grapery is 

 about eighteen feet wide, and three feet deep ; fifteen feet of 



