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THE FLORIST AND POilOLOGIST. 
[ .Taxtary, 
VINES AND 
Chapter XV.—Vine Blhders, 
(JttN EAINAGE.—This i,s one of the most 
important operation,s in the formation 
^ of a Vine Bortler, ami one that in some 
situatioms entails a considerable amount of 
expense and trouble, to render it efficient. It is 
a point that must al.Tays be taken into con¬ 
sideration in selecting the position for a 
Vinery, for if the soil cannot be drained freely 
and easily, it is not a proper situation for the 
cultivation of grapes. Since Vines will not suc¬ 
ceed well in a low, damp situation, it is best to 
choose for them a rather high position, though 
not necessarily an exposed one—on a gentle 
incline, it may be, when the work of drainage 
will be almost accomplished. Many places with 
gravelly subsoil, even if on the level, are well 
drained naturally, and so require little prepara¬ 
tion ; but it is not well to trust too much to 
natural conditions, though they are apparently 
favourable. It is better to take all ordinary 
precautions at the first, rather than to run an}' 
risks, and after several ye.ars of loss and dis¬ 
appointment, have the work all to do over 
again. 
In all cases, therefore, a considerable amount 
of draining material should be placed over the 
whole surface of the bed of the border—say 
from 1 ft. to 2 ft. or more in depth, according to 
the breadth of the border, the nature of the sub¬ 
soil, &o. At the back of the border, for example, 
wo should place a depth of 2 ft. of drainage, 
allowing it to slope to, say, 18 in. at the front, 
where a drain 12 in. lower still should be 
formed, to carry off all superabundant moisture. 
The best material, genei'ally very accessible, 
for the drainage of a vine-border will be found 
in old brick and lime rubbish, the rougher and 
larger pieces being placed at the bottom, finish¬ 
ing with the finer on the top, these forming 
a barrier which prevents the drainage materials 
from becoming choked by the soil being washed 
down amongst them. 
In very cold, wet, clayey soils, it is often ad¬ 
visable to place a layer of concrete over the 
bottom of the border. This will prevent the 
damp from arising, and out off any possibility 
of the roots descending ; Imt even in this c.ise 
it is still advisable to place the bed of brick- 
rubbish, as already recommended. The bene¬ 
ficial effect of drainage is not alone that of 
YINE-CULTUllE. 
THEIR Forjiation, E'l'C. icont!nued). 
drawing off the superfluous moisture, but the 
consequence of this being done is to raise the 
temperature of the soil. A well-drained border 
is not only drier, but warmer by’ a good many’ 
degrees, than a water-logged or undrained one. 
No better illustration than this can be given of 
the immense importance of thorough drainage 
for the roots of the Vine. 
Raised or Terraced Borders .—In low-lying 
situations, the plan of raising the borders above 
the level of the surrounding soil is greatly’ to 
be recommended. The borders thus form, as 
it were, a sort of raised terrace, the height of 
which may and will vary, of course, according 
to circumstances, but it need seldom exceed 
the intended depth of the prepared soil, the 
drainage material commencing at the natural 
or surface-level of the ground. A border 
raised in this way’ will b? comparatively warm 
and dry’, by reason of its elevation. 
In the erection of a Vinery, it will thus lie 
seen that every’ contingency’ ought to be 
taken into consideration,—not only’ the posi¬ 
tion 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 bolder raised 2^ ft. re¬ 
quires only’ to be excavated to a depth sufficient 
to take the drainage. It is a piece of folly often 
perpetuated to dig for the vine-border a great 
deep hole, which it is impossible to drain, and 
which, therefore, when filled with rubble, 
becomes a great well or cess-pool for the 
drainage of the surrounding ground. Than 
this, nothing could be much more injurious for 
the roots of vines. The lowest part of the 
foundation of the border should be provided 
with an efficient drain sunk lower still. 
Heated and- Aerated Bordo's, —Vine-borders 
may’ be heated artificially in a variety of ways ; 
for example, by’ their formation over heated 
tanks, or by hot-water pipes placed in various 
pio.sitions, &c., on which we need not here en¬ 
large. For exceptional cases, where extra early 
forcing is required, some means of this sort 
may’ be adopted with advantage ; but ex¬ 
perience has proved that in a general way 
but little advantage is secured in compari¬ 
son with the increased cost of the heating. 
