284 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



best to cut it away. That the gas, escaping from fer- 

 menting manure and leaves, will destroy the foliage, I 

 have stated in my remarks on Mr. Eoberts's plan. 



The editor of the Chronicle states, that it is the " gaseous 

 results of decomposition,, whose odors render vine bord- 

 ers, constructed on Mr. Koberts's plan, so intolerably dis- 

 gusting." (Article extracted as from the Chronicle, 1847, 

 page 851.) 



This state of the border, when prepared either by Mr. 

 Eoberts's plan, or my own, never can exist in fact. I 

 never have discovered the least odor from any border 

 after it was finished. All manures in their crude state 

 are offensive, and, in collecting them for the border, or 

 the compost heap, the person so employed must be sub- 

 ject to the gases, be they more or less disagreeable. I 

 contend that animal matter, when fresh, is less so than 

 any other manure. There is an erroneous opinion formed 

 of the condition of the border, founded upon the im- 

 proper ugp of the word carrion (before noticed) by Mr. 

 Roberts, when he does not in reality use carrion or re- 

 commend its use until changed. 



Dr. Lindley refers to an oak tree, which had been sub- 

 jected to improper treatment, by the digging into the 

 soil, around and above its roots, of an undue quantity of 

 powerful manure from a cess-pool, with the result, to the 

 tree, (almost death,) which any skilful gardener would 

 have expected. This gentleman certainly cannot intend 

 to compare this injudicious management with the com- 

 post formed from carrion and soil, and the manner of 

 applying it, as recommended by Mr. Roberts. For, he 

 immediately adds, " it is only when diluted that such 



