VINES FOR EVERY PLACE 117 



thing for the vine to cling to and cover, for that is 

 really the life of the vine; frustrate that intention 

 and it withers and dies. Being, for the most part, 

 things of the wild the more natural the conditions of 

 growth and especially the fare provided, the more 

 successful is their culture apt to prove. Growing in 

 a wild state they are usually found well footed in 

 deep leaf mold and mellow loam, with conditions af- 

 fording protection to the roots from sun and drought. 

 Unfortunately many of the places for which vines 

 are desired in our gardens and about our houses do 

 not afford these conditions. A place against the side 

 of a house, for instance, is about as discouraging 

 for a vine or plant as can well be selected; a place 

 in front of a broad porch, especially one with wooden 

 floor and latticed foundation is far better, as the soil 

 here is liable to be natural and not composed of the 

 hard pan, broken stone, brick and lime that usually 

 distinguishes that ia close proximity to the house 

 walls. 



"When, however, these unfortunate conditions pre- 

 vail there is but one remedy — ^the digging of a wide 

 and deep hole, removing the soil and replacing with 

 a good compost from the compost heap, manure pile 

 and garden. Especial attention must be given to this 

 matter of soil, for a vine is a permanent planting, not 

 to be changed as long as the vine survives, which may 

 exceed in years that of the gardener who plants it. 



