220 BORDERS FOR THE TREES. 



in that of a different quality, I would recommend 

 it to be taken out both wide and deep, not less 

 than eight or ten feet at least, in order that the 

 vines may have room to extend their roots for 

 years, and three or four feet of the bottom filled 

 up of light loam, with a considerable portion of 

 rough dry brick rubbish, road scrapings, &c. ; and 

 where the soil is of such a nature at the bottom as 

 to be repugnant to the nature of the vine, such as 

 a rank clay, &c., I would recommend the paving 

 the bottom, prior to putting in the new compost, 

 to prevent the roots getting into a soil which, if 

 it should not prove altogether so injurious to 

 their growth, may greatly deteriorate the flavour 

 of the fruit, and is frequently the cause of the 

 bunches ripening in a disorderly sort of manner, 

 some of the berries becoming quite ripe, while 

 others are quite sour. But the soil is not always 

 the cause of grapes ripening thus, as bad pruning 

 will often produce the same effects, as well as 

 meagre ragged bunches. Indeed, a celebrated 

 vine-grower, and who in his day was denominated 

 the prince of gardeners, said that (speaking of 

 France) if a vineyard was pruned badly one 



