January 21, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
37 
21 
th 
Royal Society at 4.30 r.H. Linnean Society at 8 p.M. 
22 
F 
Quekett Club at 8 p.M. 
23 
S 
Royal Botanic Society at 3.45 P.M. 
24 
SUN 
8rd Sunday after Epiphany. 
25 
23 
M 
Royal Geographical Society at 8.30 P.M. 
27 
W 
Society of Arts at 8 p.M. 
LIME FOR VINE BORDERS. 
T is a very general practice in gardening establish¬ 
ments to remove the surface soil or manure from 
the borders after pruning the Vines or previous 
to starting them into growth, and to give a fresh 
supply. These annual top dressings are often 
composed of fibry loam and decayed manure 
with a small per-centage of hones, wood ashes, 
or soot. A compost of this description is pre¬ 
ferred by many to a heavy dressing of cow or 
other farmyard manure, either in a fresh or half-decayed 
state. The latter is perhaps more generally used for the 
majority of Vine borders, for it can often be had for this 
purpose when fibry loam cannot. Where appearances have 
to be considered and manure on the surface of the border 
would be objected to, it is readily concealed by a thin coating 
of loam. For some years I used the above compost in 
preference to all manure, and mulched the surface of the 
border afterwards with the manure from spent Mushroom 
and hotbeds. The latter was not done so much to provide 
food for the Vines as to keep the surface of the border moist 
during bright weather, for in this condition the roots work 
with great activity near the surface. When the roots are 
near the surface to commence with, and the border is top- 
dressed and mulched afterwards with some moisture-holding 
material, this is certain to become full of active feeders every 
season. The opposite is the case when the surface of the 
border is dry, for the roots go downwards. 
There can be no doubt that in some instances a heavy dress¬ 
ing of manure will prove beneficial. The Vine food that it may 
be most necessary to supply annually, or at certain intervals, 
to maintain the border in a fertile state, depends chiefly upon 
the amount of suitable food the staple soil of the border con¬ 
tains, and how long it has been made. If we suppose that 
the compost used at the commencement contained all that 
is essential for the growth of the Vine and perfecting the 
fruit, it will at some time require renewing. The formation 
of the borders and the enormous quantity of water supplied 
to them during a season or two is sufficient to wash out of 
the soil much food of the utmost value for the proper support 
of the Vines. Even if they took nothing out of the 
border it would become practically unfertile in less time than 
many really suppose through the cause indicated. Under 
such circumstances it becomes necessary to add annually or 
at certain periods fresh supplies of food or the crops would fail. 
Experience and observation have convinced me that more 
borders are deficient in calcareous matter than anything 
else requisite for the Vine. There may be a few examples to 
the contrary. I know of one instance where calcareous 
matter was too abundant in the soil used for the Vines, and 
they failed to give satisfaction until a large per-centage of 
fresh soil was imported from a distance, and ever since they 
have been all that could be desired. In many cases the 
borders are made of loam that is practically destitute of lime, 
and thousands of cultivators have no other chance than to 
use it. This deficiency may be provided against, and fre- 
No. 291.—You XII., Third Series. 
quently is, by adding lime or lime rubbish to the compost 
when the border is first made. The quantity added may 
prove sufficient for a few years, and the Vines give every 
satisfaction, but afterwards the fruit fails to stone or colour 
and come up to the standard required. The usual top- 
dressings of soil or manure may be supplied every season, 
but these prove of no avail—in fact, heavy dressings of 
manure soon prove detrimental if the border has become 
deficient of lime, which is of the utmost importance to the 
production of fine well-coloured fruit. 
Mistakes are often made through the want of knowledge 
as to whether the soil to b9 U3ed for the borders and top- 
dressing contains lime or not. Frequently under such cir¬ 
cumstances an insufficient quantity of lime is. given, which 
perhaps for years results in the Vines not giving the culti¬ 
vator in charge the satisfaction he desires. Some years ago 
the soil of an old kitchen garden that had been heavily 
manured failed to grow Cabbage or anything else, and this was 
rendered thoroughly fertile by applying a heavy dressing of 
fresh lime. The improvement of the soil was so marked that 
I was tempted to try the effect of lime on Vines by applying 
it to the border in which they were growing and being forced. 
The Grapes had advanced to the colouring stage, when sud¬ 
denly they came to a standstill. The lime was mixed with 
water in a tank outside the house, and then poured upon 
the border and washed in with tepid water. The effect 
was soon observed, and the Grapes coloured fairly well, 
but all hopes of their doing so had been given up. In 
autumn several barrowfuls of lime were worked into the 
border, and little trouble was experienced in colouring the 
Grapes afterwards. 
Previous to this we had commenced making some new 
borders on the “ piece-meal ” system, but added to the loam 
used only a very small quantity of lime, which experience 
has since taught us was insufficient. Much more lime than 
many suppose must be added to soil for the benefit of Vines 
if they are to give the greatest satisfaction. When the loam 
used is almost destitute naturally of this ingredient no less 
than 12 per cent, should be added when the border is first 
formed, or in this proportion as each part of the border is 
made. When this is incorporated with the soil before it is 
placed in the border it will appear very white, and almost 
lead beginners to think that they are employing too much. 
But this will not be the case if the loam is in the condition 
indicated, and contains practically no lime. After the whole 
of the border has been completed, say for two years, no less 
than 10 per cent, should be added to the compost advised 
above for top-dressing every second year. We prefer adding 
to the quantity of compost used about half the quantity 
annually, and have found this practice to succeed admirably. 
When mixing the compost the manure, as well as the other 
ingredients, are thoroughly incorporated before they are 
applied to the border. The lime should be perfectly fresh, 
and reduced to powder by pouring water upon it. The heap 
of soil should then be turned over and left under cover in a 
shed for a day or two if possible, and the moisture of the 
loam and manure reduces to powder any lumps of lime that 
may not have been thoroughly reduced by the first operation. 
By this means the lime is thoroughly mixed with the soil 
before it is placed on the surface of the border. When the 
border is drained liberally and water given frequently 
more lime is washed out of the soil than would be the 
case with less frequent applications of water and less perfect 
drainage. 
There must be thousands of Vine borders composed o. 
soil in which lime did not naturally exist, and if not added 
when the border was made are at the present time Bhort of 
this important substance. The greater part of . many 
borders—that is, as far as the staple soil of the border is con¬ 
cerned—within my own knowledge has been made with turf 
cut from land with a sandstone formation. It is perfectly 
clear from the luxuriant growth of Rhododendrons and other 
No. 1947.— Yol, LXXIV., Old Series. 
