260 THE CULTUEE OF THE GEAPE. 



Elliott, ' I was also informed that the death of the young 

 shoots was caused by the flue running four times through 

 the back wall. All this Mr. Koberts denies.' I beg to 

 tell Mr. E., when my treatise appeared before the public, 

 I had proved the value of carrion, and I have been in the 

 habit of using it for twenty years back, the results pro- 

 duced by which have been surprising and permanent." 



" My new borders are formed and composed of mate- 

 rials nearly to my wish, with only two exceptions : there 

 is too little carrion with too great a portion of another 

 constituent in the soil, in excess, but I hope to be able 

 to subdue this last to my mind. With the above excep- 

 tions, I am convinced from what little I have made the 

 habit of the vine my study, that the border contains 

 what is required for its perfect development and fruit- 

 fulness, etc." — James Roberts^ Eaby Castle, Dece7nher 13, 

 1847. 



" (We cannot find that Mr. Elliott has said one word 

 about Kaby in his letter. Had he done so, we should 

 have waited for further information before we inserted 

 it." — Editor's remarks.) — Gardener's Chronicle, 1847, 

 jpage 837. 



" One of the best modern writers on the vine is Mr. 

 Koberts, now gardener to the Duke of Cleveland, at 

 Raby. His Treatise on Vine, Culture contains more 

 really good advice, and sensible suggestions as to the 

 way in which this plant should be managed in vineries, 

 than all the English books of routine, which had been 

 previously published, put together. His success as a 

 grape grower, while gardener to Mr. Matthew Wilson, at 

 Eshton Hall, was a brilliant example of the general 



