THE FORCING GARDEN. 



795 



pasture where the soil is a sandy loam, one-fourth of the 

 sweepings and scrapings of pavements and hard roads, one* 

 eighth of rotten cow and stable-yard dung mixed, and one- 

 eighth of vegetable mould from reduced and decayed oak- 

 leaves. The sward should be laid on a heap till the grass- 

 roots are in a state of decay, and then turned over and broken 

 with a spade ; then put it to the other materials, and work the 

 whole well together." 



Nicol recommends the border to be formed as follows : — 

 " One-half strong hazelly loam, one-fourth light sandy earth, 

 one-eighth part vegetable mould of decayed tree-leaves, and 

 an eighth-part rotten dung, to which may very properly be 

 added a moderate quantity of lime or shell-marl : these articles 

 should be perfectly decomposed, and intimately mixed, before 

 planting." 



M'Phail recommends to " provide a large quantity of earth 

 of a loamy nature ; that from arable-land, or from a ridge in 

 which a hedge-row of hazel, maple, elm, &c., has gi'own for 

 many years, and has been grubbed, is good, or a spit-deep 

 from a common, which has been long pastured, or from the 

 head or end lands of a corn-field, either of which will do 

 very well." 



Griffin, of Woodhall, in Hort. Trans., after having rendered 

 the bottom perfectly dry, it is then covered with brick, stone, 

 or lime-rubbish, about six inches thick, and over this is placed 

 a compost of " half good loamy soil with its turf ; one-quarter 

 of rich solid old dung, and one-quarter of brick or lime rub- 

 bish, the turf well rotted, and the whole well incorporated." 

 Judd, in a communication in the same work, recommends 

 half rich gritty loam from a common, one-quarter of rich old 

 dung, and a quarter of lime-rubbish, tan, and leaf-mould 

 mixed together. These materials, he recommends, to be kept 

 separate, and turned often during the winter, or before they 

 are used. After being well mixed, but not sifted, he lays them 

 on a dry prepared bottom to the depth of three feet. He uses 

 much less dung than is usual in forming borders for this pur- 

 pose, being convinced that the vine is rather injured than 

 improved by a too liberal application of that material while in 



