VINES 



shrubs — ^and I am very glad that I do not have 

 to do so — I am quite sure I would choose the 

 former. I can hardly explain how it is, but we 

 seem to get on more intimate terms with a vine 

 than we do with a shrub. Probably it is because 

 it grows so close to the dwelling, as a general 

 thing, that we come to think of it as a part of the 

 home. 



Vines planted close to the house walls often 

 fail to do well, because they do not have a good 

 soil to spread their roots in. The soil thrown 

 out from the cellar, or in making an excavation 

 for the foundation walls, is almost always hard, 

 and deficient in nutriment. In order to make it 

 fit for use a liberal amount of sand and loam 

 ought to be added to it, and mixed with it so 

 thoroughly that it becomes a practically new soil. 

 At the same time manure should be given in gen- 

 erous quantity. If this is done, a poor soil can 

 be made over into one that will give most ex- 

 cellent results. One application of manure, how- 

 ever, will not be sufficient. In one season, a 

 strong, healthy vine will use up all the elements 

 of plant-growth, and more should be supplied to 

 meet the demands of the following year. In 

 other words, vines should be manured each season 

 if they are expected to keep in good health and 



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