60 FRUIT CULTURE UNDER GLASS. 



tive subsoils, let all the natural soil be excavated to 

 the depth of 4 feet from the bottom of the arches 

 or lintels at the front of the vinery, and, supposing 

 that the outside border is to be 20 feet wide, give it 

 a slope of 18 inches to the extremity of the border. 

 The site for the inside border should be sloped to the 

 same extent, upwards in the case of lean-to house, 

 to the back wall. Lay down a layer of concrete, 3 

 to 4 inches thick, over the whole site of the border. 

 Eun a main drain parallel with the border at its 

 extreme front, and 6 inches below the lowest level 

 of the concrete. In order to make sure of the most 

 perfect drainage, lay tile -drains at right angles with 

 this main drain, up to the back of the vinery, at every 

 8 feet. Over the whole surface of the concrete, and 

 covering the tile - drains, spread a layer of broken 

 bricks, road-metal, or round gravel with all sand 

 sifted out of it, to the depth of 8 inches. Finish 

 off with a sprinkling of smaller gravel, and a turf, 

 grassy side downwards, over the whole surface. The 

 site is thus ready for the border. The slope of the 

 site, and soil, drains, &c., can be seen at a glance in 

 fig. 7. 



On what may be termed healthy gravelly subsoils 

 in dry localities, where water neither stands nor rises, 

 such extra care in drainage is not absolutely necessary. 

 But where there is the least chance of there not being 

 a ready and immediate escape for water, no hesitation 

 should ever be allowed as to the necessity of draining 

 as has been directed. I have never seen vines do 

 well in wet, and as a consequence cold borders, and 

 know of instances where wet and unproductive bor- 

 ders have been rendered fruitful by perfect drainage. 

 Although the vine in a growing state requires much 



