Page:The family kitchen gardener - containing plain and accurate descriptions of all the different species and varieties of culinary vegetables (IA familykitchengar56buis).pdf/194

 the ground. It would then always be dry and sweet, and if too dry, water might be given when required. Soils for the growth of this plant must be-dry, and free from excess of moisture at any season. The excrementitious matter discharged from the roots of a vine is very great, and if this be given out in cold, retentive soils, they soon become diseased, and a pale and languid vegetation ensues. If, therefore, the bottom is not naturally dry, make it so by draining. Having obtained a dry bottom, by rough materials of any description, cover it to the desired height with fresh turf from a rich pasture, and dig in one-fourth of well-decomposed manure, at least one year old, interspersing it with a few bones of any description, oyster shells, road scrapings from the turnpike, or any other enriching material that undergoes slow decomposition. The whole must be repeatedly turned, and allowed to settle before the vines are planted. Extreme caution has to be used in administering bone dust, slaughter-house offal, and other rich manures, especially if the vines are to be planted in it the same season. The surface of the soil should have a descent to carry off rains and snows. Never crop vine borders, nor tread much upon them. Have a trellis walk laid on the soil, for the daily operations of training, tieing, pruning, &c. Stir up the surface of the border once a year with the fork, and give it a dressing of manure. From these remarks it must not be inferred that vines will not grow unless in richly prepared soils. They will grow well in poor, dry, sandy soils, provided they have annually a good portion of rich vegetable or animal matter dug into them every Autumn, and a covering of manure during Winter—the rains passing through which will strengthen the soil and enable it to give great growths and good crops.

.—This is frequently done by layers, of which we have given a hint under the culture of Native Grapes; also by cuttings of last year's wood; but the best method of grow-