850 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER, 
[ October 20, 1892. 
different notions prevail in regard 
to manures, and also the making 
of Vine borders. Some of the best 
cultivators now have their soils 
analysed with great care, and the 
different ingredients, of which 
they may be found deficient, added 
with mathematical precision. 
In the formation of a Vine 
border which is intended to be of 
a permanent nature, the manures 
that may be used should be of a 
lasting character, so that they will 
afford support to the Vines as long 
as possible. 
Size of Border. —The Vine may 
be grown in a very small space, 
and in a very little soil, as is evi¬ 
denced by the splendid results 
obtained by its cultivation in pots. 
. . . If permanent Vines are 
desired—Vines that will continue 
in full vigour for, say, twenty 
years—a border of considerable 
size must be provided. . . . 
Many good cultivators form their 
Vine borders in sections— i.e., 3 or 
4 feet is made up the first season, 
a similar portion is added the fol¬ 
lowing year, and so on, until the 
required space is filled. 
Inside v. Outside Borders .— 
Much discussion has taken place 
as to . . . having the Vines 
planted inside . . . or in bor¬ 
ders outside the house. . . . The 
disadvantages are . . . The great 
amount of labour, &c., required 
in watering, and the skill and 
care necessary in keeping up the 
requisite degree of moisture at the 
roots. A scarcity of water, or a 
little neglect in its application, 
will ruin the crop. On the other 
hand, outside borders require little 
attention in regard to watering. 
Drainage. —This is one of the 
most important operations in the 
formation of a Vine border, and 
one that, in some situations, en¬ 
tails a considerable amount of 
expense and trouble to render it 
efficient. It is a point that must 
always be taken into considera¬ 
tion in selecting the position for 
a vinery. . . . It is better to 
take all ordinary precautions at 
the first, rather than to run any 
■risks, and then, after several years 
of loss and disappointment, to 
have all the work to do over 
again. 
In every case, therefore, a con¬ 
siderable amount of draining 
material should be placed over 
the whole surface of the bed of 
the border—say from 1 to 2 feet 
or more in depth. 
In the formation of a Vine 
border, it will thus be seen that 
every contingency ought to be 
taken into consideration, not only 
the position or situation, but also 
the level of the border itself. The 
amount of excavation necessary 
in making up the border will be 
determined by its depth, measuring 
from the surface-level; thus a 
border raised 2£ feet requires only 
to be excavated to a depth suffi¬ 
cient to hold the drainage. 
Covering. — It has long been 
customary that Vine borders should 
be at all times covered with some 
fermenting material. It is, however, 
not necessary in ordinary cases. The 
beneficial effects of the frost on 
the soil is well known, and it is 
good practice to expose the soil of 
a Vine border to its action as 
much as possible. 
of Vine borders. Some of the best 
cultivators now have their soils 
analysed with great care, and 
different ingredients in which they 
may be found deficient added with 
mathematical precision. In the 
formation of a Vine border which 
is intended to be of a permanent 
nature the manures that may 
be used should be of a lasting 
character, so that it will afford 
support to the Vine as long as 
possible. 
Borders. —Vines maybe grown 
in a small space and in very little 
soil, as is evident by the splendid 
results obtained by their cultiva¬ 
tion in pots, but they are soon 
worn out ; one crop one season and 
they are done. If Vines are 
desired that will last for twenty- 
five or thirty years borders of con¬ 
siderable size must be provided, 
and this is best done in sections. 
If young Vines are to be planted 
4 to 6 feet will be found sufficient 
to make up the first season, adding 
a similar portion as the roots 
extend, and so on until the space 
is filled up. 
Much discussion has taken place 
as to having the Vines planted 
with the roots inside or in borders 
outside the house. . . . The dis¬ 
advantages are the great amount 
of labour required in watering, 
and the skill and care necessary in 
keeping up the requisite degree of 
moisture at the roots. A scarcity 
of water, or a little neglect in its 
application, will ruin the crop. 
On the other hand, outside borders 
require little attention in regard 
to watering. 
Drainage. —This is one of the 
most important matters in the for¬ 
mation of a Vine border, and one 
that in some situations entails a 
considerable amount of trouble 
and expense to render it efficient. 
It is a point that should always be 
taken into consideration in se¬ 
lecting a position for a vinery. 
It is better to take all ordinary 
precautions at the first rather 
than run any risk, and then 
after several years of loss and 
disappointment to have all the 
work to do over again. A 
considerable amount of draining 
material should be placed over the 
whole of the bed of the border— 
say, from 1 foot to 15 inches in 
depth, and certainly never less 
than 9 inches. . . In the forma¬ 
tion of a Vine border everything 
ought to be taken into consideration, 
not only the position, but also the 
level of the border. The amount 
of excavation necessary in making 
up the border will be determined 
by its depth, measuring from the 
surface level ; thus a border raised 
2\ feet requires only to be exca¬ 
vated to a depth sufficient to hold 
the drainage. 
Covering Borders. —It is an 
old custom, and I think considered 
by many to be needful, that Vine 
borders should be covered, but I 
do not now think it is necessary 
in ordinary cases. The beneficial 
effects of frost on soil are well 
known, and it is a good practice 
to expose the soil of a Vine border 
to its action_:ia3 much as possible. 
More Vines are ruined through 
want of water, perhaps, than from 
any other cause. The quantity of 
water which Vines require in well- 
drained borders is astonishing. 
. . . Before the Vines are started 
into growth, every particle of soil 
should be thoroughly saturated, 
and from the time they come into 
leaf until the ripening of the fruit. 
Watering. — More Vines are 
ruined through the want of water 
than perhaps any other cause 
known. The quantity of water a 
Vine requires when growing in 
well-drained borders is astonish¬ 
ing. . . . Before the Vines are 
started into growth every particle 
of the soil should be thoroughly 
saturated, and from the time they 
come into leaf until they begin to 
ripen the fruit. 
We decline to publish the remaining part of Mr. McCormick’s paper. 
It is good, as it ought to be, as it contains a great deal of matter from 
Mr. Barron’s book, but wholly unacknowledged. The foregoing extracts 
in paralleled columns are sufficient to show that Mr. Barron is justified 
in demanding a suitable apology from Mr. McCormick. 
- Events of the Week. —The forthcoming week will be excep¬ 
tionally quiet so far as metropolitan horticultural events are concerned. 
There will not be any exhibitions held within the metropolitan area, 
but several important sales will take place. Attention might also be 
drawn to a five-days sale of nursery stock, which will commence on 
Monday, 24th, at Hare Hill and Brox Nurseries, Addlestone, and like¬ 
wise to a sale of Orchids and stove plants at Bristol on Tuesday, 25th, 
For particulars of these and other sales see advertisement pages. 
- The Weather in London.—A lthough it by no means opened 
favourably, this week promises to be fine. Sunday proved dull and 
gusty with occasional showers, but it has since been clearer though cold. 
At the time of going to press the barometer is firm and sky clear, with 
north-westerly winds. A slight frost occurred on Tuesday night. 
- The Weather in the North.—W ith 6° of frost on the 
morning of the 12th, 3° on the 17th, and 9£°, with very dense hoar frost, 
this morning (18th), we have had our foretaste of winter. Fine cold 
weather for the last ten days has enabled the farmers in this locality 
to secure nearly all their grain. Small quantities of Beans are still in 
stcok. Potato lifting has begun, but these are not grown to any great 
extent here. In many parts of the country things have not been so 
favourable. From Berwickshire a friend writes :—“ There are hundreds of 
acres out in this county, even on good soils. As for the Lammermoor 
farms the crop is quite green, and they are just cutting it. The weather 
is cold, and scarcely a day is dry throughout. What with low prices 
for stock and a bad harvest farmers, especially hill ones, are to be badly 
set this season.”—B. D., S. Perthshire. 
■ - Complimentary Dinner and Presentation to Mr. 
William Marshall. —A number of gentlemen associated with Mr. 
Marshall in carrying out the series of flower shows in connection with 
the International Horticultural Exhibition at Earl’s Court, as judges and 
exhibitors,entertained Mr. Marshall at a dinner in the Exhibition building 
on the 13th inst., Mr. Harry Turner acting as Chairman, supported by 
Messrs. J. Laing, H. Herbst, P. Barr, W. Poupart, A. F. Barron, H. 
Williams, A. Turner, J. Walker, B. Wynne, R. Dean, &c. In the course 
of the evening the Chairman presented Mr. Marshall with an oil painting 
by Miss Macfarlane, representing a Spanish vase containing flowers of 
Brassavola Digbyana and Cypripedium barbatum, with a bloom of the 
Gloire de Dijon Rose lying at the base, the picture having been purchased 
by contributions from a number of friends. Mr. Marshall, who appeared 
to be much gratified by the compliment paid him, suitably responded. 
- The Spindle Tree. —Please state in your next issue of the 
Journal the name of the enclosed specimen I found in a hedge surround¬ 
ing a coppice, and had been laid with other undergrowth to make the 
hedge. It is not common here (near Holmwood, Surrey), only a few 
plants are to be found at long intervals. The natives of the locality call 
it the “ Skewer-wood.” I am almost sure it is a deciduous shrub ; its 
berries, or seeds, are very ornamental.—B. G. [The shrub is Euonymue 
europseus or Spindle Tree, which grows freely in many localities. The 
sprays, with their scarlet fruits, are very attractive, and particularly 
appropriate to vase and table decoration at this season of the year.] 
