424 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
I put the richest soil near the surface; the roots seek it, or 
are content to feed in it, and are more directly under the con¬ 
trol of the gardener. If the old method of trenching the 
ground, burning carcasses or other putrid matter, &c., be 
adopted, the roots go down, away from the sun and air in 
search of food; and when it is desired to check the growth in 
the fall, by withholding water or moisture, and lowering the 
temperature, in order to ripen the wood before winter, it is 
found more difficult to do; the roots are not so sensitive to 
exterior influences. The importance of a well ripened cane 
cannot be over-rated. If ripe, a cane will withstand a great 
amount of freezing, and unless it is well ripened, we need not 
look for much success in vine culture. 
As the border decomposes and settles, a top dressing of 
compost may be given. It may be made of ten wagon loads of 
prairie sod, cut four inches deep, put in a heap, mixed and cut 
fine to be kep t moderately dry, and worked with three or four 
bushels shell lime, slacked with from one,-half to one bushel of 
coarse salt dissolved in water, or about the same proportion of 
pickle. The salt kills grubs or insects in the compost. To 
the above add six to eight bushels of unleached ashes, or 
twelve to sixteen bushels of leached, all the soap suds from the 
house. Do not turn or work the compost when wet. If you 
do, it becomes like clay worked for brick. To the whole add 
two or three loads of barn-yard manure. 
I have hitherto recommended the use of salt, lime and ashes, 
applied to the surface of the border without being mixed in 
compost. I have used them thus. But it is better that the 
inexperienced mix it with the compost. If oyster shells or 
bones can be got easily, and crushed or broken, a few barrels 
may be added with advantage for a permanent border compost. 
The Border Outside .—Vine borders should be made to ex¬ 
tend outside the house. I make it five or six feet wide outside, 
when it is practicable to do so, and extend it annually, until it 
is twelve or fifteen feet wide, sloping from the wall of the 
vinery down to the surface of the adjoining ground. The roots 
