May 4, 1907. 
TUB QARDBNINO WORLD. 
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Fruit Growing 
7.—GRAPES. 
( Continued.) 
for Amateurs. 
The Construction of the Border.— 
Drainage is a most important item. Stag¬ 
nant moisture must not be allowed to re¬ 
main near the roots of the Vines, else 
they will soon die. A house situated on 
a slope is easily drained of ail surplus 
water, but where the ground is level, a 
drain should be laid down, so as to convey 
the water to an outlet at some distance, 
or to a dead well made in the garden in a 
convenient spot. 
Broken bricks, clinkers, and lumps of 
chalk make a splendid drainage, and 
either would be sufficient to convey away 
all surplus water where the border is 
>- . -<■ » r ~T' ' 
a. v; \.jt-- T ■■ ' 
5. Section of Vine border. The base 
slopes to a drain, c. A, rough clinkers or 
broken bricks for drainage. B, roughly cut 
pieces of whole turves. C, finer turves, 
roots in fner soil. 
D, 
6 . The right kind of eye for propagating. 
: 7 - 
7. The eye prepared for insertion. A, a 
portion of wood cut away from the under¬ 
side. 
formed on a slope. But if it is necessary 
to lay down drains, it is advisable to put 
in clinkers or similar material to a depth 
of about 9 inches all over the bottom of 
the border. 
On the jbroken bricks or clinkers lay 
down a single course of turves with the 
grass side downwards; these turves will 
effectually prevent the finer soil compos- 
in o- the border from being washed down 
amongst the drainage material ancl caus¬ 
ing a block (see Fig. 5). 
The Compost. —Some persons fully 
believe that it is necessary to have a very 
rich border in which to grow. Vines; but 
this is a mistaken idea. You must put 
in a material which will remain sound for 
very many years, and no better can be 
found than turves from an upland pas¬ 
ture, taken from the open ground, not 
under trees, nor close to hedges, so that 
all danger of rotten pieces of wood will 
Ibe avoided. Also be quite sure that 
the ground from which the turves are 
taken is free from wireworms. 
Break up the turves into pieces about 6 
inches square and place them on the whole 
turves overlying the drainage. Do not 
add any organic manure, but 5 lbs. of 
rough bones may be mixed with every 
eight barroiwloads of chopped turves and 
1 bushel of old mortar rubbish quite free 
from pieces of laths. 
Put in the turves while they are fairly 
dry .and tread them down lightly. Fill 
up the space—about 2 feet deep—with 
the turves; in due time they will settle 
down several inches, thus leaving room 
for more compost being put on the roots 
of the Vines when the latter are planted- 
Propagation of Vines from “ Eyes. ” 
—Amateurs, generally, will not trouble 
to raise their Vines themselves; but those 
who wish to do so should insert “eyes” 
as follows:—Select a few well fipened 
shoots at pruning time—the latter part 
of December—and insert them in soil 5 
inches deep in a cool frame. Early in 
February cut up the shoots into short 
lengths, one “eye” to each length (see 
Fig. 6); reject the plump “eyes” near the 
end df the shoot but retain those near the 
base. 
Then cut off more wood, leaving each 
“eye” with about 1 inch of wood to it (see 
Fig. 7); and after cutting away a little 
of the hard wood immediately below the 
bud or “eye”—about one third—the latter 
will be ready for insertion (see Fig. 8). 
The compost should he of medium 
quality, not poor, nor too rich. Fibrous 
loam 2 parts, leaf soil 1 part, and sand 
1 part will answer the purpose. Put the 
prepared compost in pots or pans which 
have been well drained. Press down the 
soil firmly, cover the surface with coarse 
sand, and then insert the “eyes” 2 inches 
apart, just leaving the bud visible on the 
top. 
A fairly brisk bottom heat is essential 
to the rooting of the “eyes,” therefore 
plunge the pots or pans containing them 
in a propagating frame on a hotbed, or 
over hot water pipes. The soil must not 
8 . The Vine eye inserted.- A, s'lnd at base. 
B, the eye just exposed. 
?■ 
9. A young Vine after one year's growth 
—about 2ft. long. 
/O 
10. A young Vine 2 years old ready for 
planting. 
