250 GARDENING FOR PLEASURE. 



the borders being entirely outside. The bottom of the 

 excavation was graded from the front of the building to 

 the outside of the borders, with a fall of about an inch 

 to a foot, so that thorough and rapid drainage would be 

 sure to be attained. At the extremity of each border a 

 drain was built to carry off the water. The whole bot- 

 tom was then cemented over so as to prevent the roots 

 from penetrating the subsoil. This pit was then filled 

 to the depth of about two feet (four inches being allowed 

 for settling) with a compost which was previously pre- 

 pared by mixing about three parts of turf taken from 

 the surface of a rather shaly pasture, one part of rotten 

 stable manure, and one part of lime rubbish. In addi- 

 tion, about one-twentieth part of rough or broken bone 

 was added. 



It is one of the popular errors that vines for graperies 

 should be two or three years old. The age of a vine 

 usually has but little to do with its size, and if grape- 

 vines are properly grown the first year from cuttings, 

 they will be quite as good for planting as if two or three 

 years old. In fact, it is a question whether a vine grown 

 from a cutting in March, and planted in June, is not 

 quite as good as one a year older. Our experience has 

 shown that there is hardly a perceptible difference in the 

 two at the end of the season. As such vines, however, 

 are too tender to be shipped far, we generally recommend 

 buying one year old vines that may be planted in April, 

 May, or June, having ripened shoots about three feet in 

 length. These vines are all grown in pots the previous 

 season, and when received the soil should be shaken off 

 entirely, and the roots spread out in the border without 

 injuring them. The root, it will be understood, is 

 planted outside in the border, and the shoot taken inside, 

 through an opening in the walls, which may be made of 

 brick, stone, or wood, and should be left open at every 

 three feet, the distance at which the vines should be 



