188 



btjist's family kitchen gardener. 



the ground. It would then always be dry and sweet, and if 

 too dry, water might be given when required. Soils for the 

 growth of this plant must be dry. and free from excess of 

 moisture ^at any season. The excrementitious matter dis- 

 charged from the roots of a vine is very great, and if this be 

 given out in cold, retentive soils, they soon become diseased, 

 and a pale and languid vegetation ensues. If, therefore, the bot- 

 tom is not naturally dry, make it so by draining. Having ob- 

 tained a dry bottom, by rough materials of any description, cover 

 it to the desired height with fresh turf from a rich pasture, and 

 dig in one-fourth of well-decomposed manure, at least one 

 year old, interspersing it with a few bones of any description, 

 oyster shells, road scrapings from the turnpike, or any other 

 enriching material that undergoes slow decomposition. The 

 whole must be repeatedly turned, and allowed to settle before 

 the vines are planted. Extreme caution has to be used in ad- 

 ministering bone dust, slaughter-house offal, and other rich 

 manures, especially if the vines are to be planted in it the same 

 season. The surface of the soil should have a descent to carry 

 off rains and snows. Never crop vine borders, nor tread much 

 upon them. Have a trellis walk laid on the soil, for the daily 

 operations of training, tieing, pruning, &c. Stir up the sur- 

 face of the border once a year with the fork, and give it a 

 dressing of manure. From these remarks it must not be in- 

 ferred that vines will not grow unless in richly prepared soils. 

 They will grow well in poor, dry, sandy soils, provided they 

 have annually a good portion of rich vegetable or animal 

 matter dug into them every Autumn, and a covering of ma- 

 nure during Winter — the rains passing through which will 

 strengthen the soil and enable it to give great growths and 

 good crops. 



Propagation. — This is frequently done by layers, of which 

 we have given a hint under the culture of Native Grapes ; also 

 by cuttings of last year's wood ; but the best method of grow- 



