304 



VINERY AT CASTLE MALGWYN. 



of the border, the bottom of which is gently sloped from the 

 houses to the extreme edge, where is built a box-drain extending 

 the whole length of the border, as shown in the accompanying 

 section marked 1 ; this drain is one foot square, the top of 

 it being level with the bottom of the border, as also shown in 

 section. When this was completed dwarf walls, marked 3, were 

 built across the border, three feet and a half apart, one foot 

 square, in the pigeon-hole manner; on the top of these walls are 

 laid rough flags ; these in reality form the bottom of the border, 

 and upon these is placed about six inches of broken stones and 

 bricks, marked 4, then covered with turf with the grassy side 

 down to prevent the soil mixing with the stones. There are 

 flues or chimneys at each end of the border and centre com- 

 municating with the drains in the bottom, as shown in section 

 marked 2 ; the top of these flues is nicely made of stone ten 

 inches square, through which is cut a hole of six inches square, 

 into which is inserted a plug of a wedge-like form, so as to fit 

 tightly, but removeable at pleasure ; these flues are about an 

 inch above ground. 



At the back of the border are placed cast-iron pipes (marked 

 o) perpendicularly, and also communicating 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 drying 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. There is no air admitted underneath at this period ; 

 the compost used in the formation of the border was hazelly 

 loam with its turf three parts and one part brick, lime rubbish, 

 and broken stones, with a little rich old dung, the turf well 

 rotted and the whole well incorporated ; the borders are forked 

 up and watered with liquid manure once a year. 



The spur system of pruning the vine is adopted, but some- 

 what different to that generally practised : only every other or 

 alternate spur is allowed to bear fruit ; the spur which bore 

 fruit the last year being cut back at the winter's pruning to the 

 base will again push forward, which is stopped at the third bud, 

 and when the grapes begin to ripen and the w ood is hardening 

 they are cut back within one inch of the second bud, which 

 never fails to be large and plump ; from this bud two or three 

 bunches will push, but not more than one or two are allowed to 

 remain, the first bud being rubbed off when they begin to sw ell 

 at the forcing season, and so on annually in alternate succes- 

 sion : by pruning thus the spurs are always kept short and near 

 the principal or leading shoot. 



