THE GRAPE. 



135 



hand, the foul effluvia that will arise from the soil 

 and perspiration of the plants, will settle and con- 

 dense on the leaves of the young vines, and bring 

 on disease ; the young bunches of grapes will 

 decay and rot off, and, in fact, it is impossible for 

 any person to do justice, to anything so opposite in 

 nature as green-house plants and grape vines, at an 

 early season. 



When grapes are intended to be grown in hot- 

 houses , every other thing accommodated should be 

 considered as temporary, and the grape should, in 

 every icay, be treated as near as possible to its nature, 

 or little good can be expected. 



Preparing the border for planting. — The border 

 for the grapery, is generally prepared on the outside 

 of the house, of the length of the front, and the 

 vines are planted close to the front walk, and brought 

 into the house under the sill, one vine under each 

 rafter- The manner adopted is to dig out the soil 

 from two and a half to three feet deep, and from 

 twelve to fifteen, or as wide as the vines have to 

 traverse under the roof, will perhaps, be a better 

 criterion, as most plants (the vine particularly) are 

 found to extend their roots in the earth as far in 

 length or distance as they grow in height. If the 

 bottom is wet, it will be better to dig out the soil a 

 foot deeper, and fill it up with old mortar rubbishy or 

 anything that will draw off the water, as the grape 

 vine always thrives best on dry bottoms. When the 

 border is thus prepared, it will require to be filled 

 with compost, in the month of September. 



Preparing the compost. — The compost which I 

 have for.nd to answer a good purpose, for the vinery 

 is a mellow loam, well incorporated with one third 



