BORDERS OR PREYARED BEDs. 51 
tility, where the same spot is constantly cropped. In the 
present subject we are precisely in this position, and there 
ought to be great regard for the future constitutional 
power, if a healthy after-life be cared for, which is not to 
be acquired by the excessive quantity of these helps 
that only act upon the vegetable, in the same manner 
as do alcoholic drinks upon the human system. All our 
best physicians acknowledge the good effects of stimu- 
lants in particular kinds of disease, when administered 
with skill, and everybody knows how soon the strongest 
constitution is broken down by the great quantities that 
too many indulge in. So it is with the grape vine; we 
all commence with endeavoring to gain strong, and more 
than natural growth, but there certainly is no reason why 
we should keep our plants in a continual state of intoxica 
tion, from the moment of their first awaking in the spring, 
a 
the whole outer surface of the roots (which are equivalent 
to the mouths of animals), until the next season's warmth 
again arouses their action. We would not by any means 
have it understood, that we are opposed to the judicious 
use of ammonia, or any of the other compounds that are 
to be found in more abundance in the animal, than in the 
vegetabie body; but do protest against the inordinate 
mixture of such, often to the exclusion of other, and more 
necessary bases, and which leaves the plant after a few 
years of undue excitement, a prey to disease and prema 
ture decay. If success has seemed to attend the progres 
