THE CULTURE OF THE GRAFS. 63 



Js (let it be ever so fresh,) always an unpleasant and dis- 

 agreeable object. 



In countries (as I presume is the case in England,) 

 where the heads and bones of animals are considered too 

 valuable tc be thrown into the manure heap at the sham- 

 bles, the most lasting, and, for this purpose, the part con- 

 stituting the properties for which it has been recommend- 

 ed are wanting, and it is of no more value than any- 

 other stimulating manure. 



" As some diflFerence of opinion exists respecting the 

 proper covering for vine borders, I have ventured to give 

 the material I use, which answers (under the circumstan- 

 ces,) as well as any thing I have seen recommended. At 

 the first appearance of frost, I cover the border with dry 

 beech or oak leaves, (two feet or more in thickness,) 

 newly fallen from the trees if I can get them ; cover with 

 a little litter to keep them from blowing away. In 

 spring, as soon as iine weather sets in, I remove the leaves 

 entirely, fork the border over lightlj'-, and add a nice top 

 dressing of rotten manure mixed with the best soil I can 

 procure. 



" In making the border, I have followed Mr. Hoare's 

 plan, as far as possible. The foundation is flagged over 

 with a deep drain running round the outside. I laid on 

 the flags eighteen inches of broken bricks, lumps of old 

 mortar, &c., with a little small on the top, in which I put 

 a three inch sod (grassy side down,) to prevent the com- 

 post from getting down amongst the bricks. The princi- 

 pal part of the compost consisted of rich turfy loam, leaf 

 mould, and rotten dung, with lime rubbish and gravel to 



