56 THE GRAPE. 
afte: tLe borders become filled with routs, as they are always 
more or less drawing nutriment and moisture, thereby 
1endering the base soil more porous, when the gases of the 
atmosphere, which are very beneficial, have a chance of 
eceupying the interstices, and forming chemical combi- 
nations with the material; thereby producing a continual 
renewal of suitable food for the support of vegetable iife. 
We have ample proofs of the correctness of this, and where 
borders are constructed as above advised, there will be an 
admission of air, not only from the openings to the drains 
and from them under the whole bed, but also from above. 
It is not by administering such enormous doses of stimu- 
lating, or fertilizing material all at once, and before the 
roots have progressed in sufficient numbers, or distance, to 
appropriate it to their use, that we are to calculate upon 
the most permanent results, or immediate success. So 
long as we supply from time to time what is required, it is 
jough, and if we have got well drained and porous bor- 
ders, we can the more readily apply top-dressings and 
mulchings in after years, without injury, or covering 
he roots too deep ; for if, in efficiently drained ground, a 
layer of dung be spread over the surface, it will be found 
_ fter a time, that there is little but dry chaff left, all the 
_ soluble parts having been washed by the rains down into 
the soil below, and the plants will have received the bene- 
fit of it, 
With regard to the width of these borders there are 
s have been led by 
