HOTHOUSE CULTURE OP VINES. 311 



nated, and the natural soil being entirely removed therefrom, 

 I would advise covering the bottoms with a layer of gravel 

 one or two inches thick to drain off superabundant moisture, 

 after which it should be filled with a mixture of such soils and 

 manures as are best calculated to secure the object in view, 

 full information relative to which will be found under their 

 respective heads. 



Speechly prescribes the following mixture as most proper 

 for the purpose, and states that it is the same as was used in 

 planting the famous vine at Welbeck. " One fourth part of 

 garden mould (a strong loam), one fourth of the swarth or turf 

 from a pasture where the soil is a sandy loam, one fourth of 

 the sweepings and scrapings of pavements and hard roads, 

 one eighth of rotten cow and stable-yard dung mixed, and one 

 eighth of vegetable mould from reduced and decayed foliage." 

 The swarth should be laid in a heap till the grass and roots 

 decay and then be turned over and broken with a spade, after 

 which it should be added to the other materials, and the whole 

 be worked together until the several parts become perfectly 

 well mixed and incorporated. If this compost be mixed some 

 time previous to use, it will be the better, but if time will not 

 permit that, they can be mixed as well as possible by working 

 them over at the time. Many persons make use of a much 

 more simple mixture of materials, and take only one half good 

 garden mould and one half well rotted manure, which are 

 either well mixed up beforehand or spread in layers whilst 

 forming the bed, and mixed up as well as possible at the time 

 of the operation. Were I to suggest a variation I would 

 recommend the following : one fourth strong garden loam, 

 one fourth light sandy loam, one fourth decomposed vegetable 

 mould from swamps or woodlands, and one fourth well rotted 

 manure. 



After the bed has been filled up with this prepared soil, it 

 is better it should remain some time to settle previous to plant- 

 ing the vines ; or if the vines are planted immediately, an al- 

 lowance should be made of two or three inches for the settling 

 of the ground, and consequently of the plant itself. The 



