Ui CONCRETma VINE BORDERS. 



•with, the drains underneath; those being higher than the flues in front 

 cause a motion in the air beneath the border. After a long continuance 

 of rain the plugs in the flues in front are taken out, thereby creating a 

 great circulation of air, and thus to a vast extent accelerating the proper 

 dr3dng of the borders, -which is deemed of much importance. In the 

 winter season the borders are covered with leaves and stable manure to 

 the depth of twelve inches. It is obvious that the whole aim of the con- 

 structor of this border was to do that which experience shows to be so 

 important. He not only got rid of superfluous water, but he introduced 

 air in abundance, and at the same time the natural warmth which it 

 carries with it. The result was Black Hamburgh Grapes, weighing 

 from two pounds nine ounces up to Jive pounds a hunch — beautiful fruit 

 of admirable quality, on Vines just seven years old. 



The experiments with coKCKBiiua Vine bobbee, were all made with 

 the same end in view, namely, the elevation of the temperature of the 

 soil in which Vine roots are formed. By keeping them near the 

 surface, they derive much more advantage from the sun than if they 

 penetrated deeply into the ground, which a concrete bottom renders 

 impossible. Mr. Fleming, the experienced gardener at Trentham Hall, 

 in Staffordshire, found it impossible to obtain good Grapes in that cold 

 soil until the plan of concreting was employed. As soon as the bottom 

 of his border was artificially rendered impenetrable by the Vine roots, 

 all difficulty disappeared. In illustration of the effect of the system 

 he mentions in the Gardener's Chronicle for 1850, p. 723, the following 

 circumstance. In one of the houses which had been planted eight 

 years, the black Grapes ceased to colour well ; and as the border was 

 well made, and rested upon well prepared concrete, having a declivity 

 to throw off the wet quickly, he was much disappointed. IJpon opening 

 the ground in front of the border, the cause of the Grapes not colouring 

 was immediately discovered ; the roots had got into the drain, and 

 across it into the subsoil beyond the concrete. 



Mr. Spencer, of Bowood, one of the most experienced and perfectly well 

 informed of aU our great English gardeners, has carried out the plan of 

 concreting in a different manner, of which he has given an account,* 

 which contains so much practical wisdom that it is here republished 

 with little curtailment. 



"On many descriptions of soils, the Viae grows with great vigour, 

 and wiU bear large crops of fruit, Mth but little or no assistance in the 

 way of manure — such appears to be the case with the one at Cumber- 

 land Lodge,t the Hampton Court Vine, and others in various places. 



* See Oardmer's Chronicle for 1850, p. 772. 

 t Tte following is the history of the great Vine at Cumberland Lodge, in Windsor 

 Park, which is aUuded to by Mr. Spencer. It was planted about fifty years ago, in 

 common light garden soil resting upon a bed of hard gravel and clay. In 1860 it produced 



