OF THE VINE. 
37 
would be liable, by its finking, to caufe the border to fettle 
too much after the gravel was laid upon it. 
I am fully perfuaded that the Vine is frequently injured by 
the common cuftom of putting improper dung into the bor- 
ders, for dung fhould not be permitted to approach the roots, 
till it be perfecflly reduced to a kind of black mould. 
Lime will, it is faid, lend a friendly aid to the Vine ; and, 
indeed, it is pofiible that fome kinds of lime may pofTefs that 
ufeful quality, for lime differs as much in its nature as land 
does. Lime made of the />ea^ flone is of a rich and mild 
quality, and is ufed, with the greatefl fuccefs, as a top-dreffing 
for grafs-lands, and its good effedts are very lafting ; indeed, 
it is afferted, that land will be benefited by a coat_of this lime 
for the fpace of eighteen or twenty years. This fpecies of lime 
might, in all probability, be of great fervice, if admitted into the 
Vine-compofi: ; but I am perfuaded that there is fomething 
too powerful, if not pernicious, in lime of a different quality; 
and that Vines are greatly injured by the common pradice of 
laying lime-rubbifh for the bottom floor in the preparation of 
the ground ; this floor being intended to give a check to, but 
not to injure the roots of the tree. On this account it would 
be prudent to difcard the ufe of it in this mode of application. 
Having thus duly confidered the various foils, manures, and 
compofl:, and fhewn which are the mofl falutary for the Vine, 
and 
