166 FRUIT. 



nature, to keep it open and allow water to percolate freely. 

 A little wood-ashes may also be added, but as a rule no organic 

 manures should be mixed with the soil when making the 

 border. Too rich a soil has a tendency to cause over luxuri- 

 ance, which is not conducive to fruitfulness. The proper aim 

 should be to lay a good foundation on a moderate growth of 

 well-ripened wood. The compost having been carefully put 

 in its place and well consolidated, the border will be in readi- 

 ness for the planting of the vines. Many varieties are often 

 seen planted in the same house, no consideration having been 

 given as to whether they were amenable to the same treat- 

 ment or not. This error should be strictly avoided, and only 

 those varieties planted in the same house which are known to 

 succeed under the same treatment and temperature. One or 

 two houses should be devoted to those requiring a high tem- 

 perature, such as the Muscat of Alexandria, Mrs. Pince, Muscat 

 Hamburgh, Gros Colman, Gros Guillaume, and Trebbiano. 

 Although the three last are not high-flavoured grapes, they are 

 improved by the same treatment as Muscats. Other houses may 

 contain Alicante, Alnwick Seedling, Black Hamburgh, Buckland 

 Sweetwater, Golden Queen, Madresfield Court, and their like. 

 The houses are, say, 30 feet long, taking nine vines, each 

 3 feet 4 inches apart. The roots of the vines should be care- 

 fully examined before planting, to ascertain if they are in a 

 healthy state and likely to make a good start. If the canes 

 are long, they should be bent horizontal, and the eyes cut out 

 to within a foot of the roots. Early in March the vines should 

 be placed in a gentle heat, and when they have grown about 

 three inches they are ready for planting ; shaking them care- 

 fully out, pruning any long roots, and spreading all carefully 

 out, and covering them with some of the finest of the soil, 

 settling it about them with tepid water, and finishing off all 

 smoothly. After the roots have got hold of the soil, watering 

 must be carefully attended to, as neglect of this is a frequent 

 source of failure in vines, especially at first, when the border 

 is extremely porous, and water percolates freely to the drain- 

 age. The strong roots in searching for water push their way 

 downwards until they form a perfect mass at the bottom of 



