effects, which renders it more fit for a topdressing, than to be used as a component part of the border when first made. If spread on the surface in a thin layer, it will soon dry, and may then be forked in, in a pulverised state.

In concluding these remarks on manure, it is necessary further to observe, with respect to the application of liquid manures and top-dressings, that care must be taken, not to make the surface of the border too rich. An excess of manure deteriorates the flavour of grapes, and is, moreover, injurious to the fertility of a vine, inasmuch as it stimulates the plant too highly, causing, thereby, an excessive and unnatural growth of wood, which being formed too rapidly, becomes long-jointed and productive of leaf-buds instead of fruit-buds. Liquid manures and top-dressings, therefore, must be judiciously applied, lest a rank and barren vegetation be induced, in lieu of a healthy and fruitful one. This cautionary remark is the more necessary, as vines are well known to be amongst the grossest feeders in nature; their roots absorbing with the appetite of a glutton, every description of liquid refuse that is placed within their reach, however fetid or nauseous it may be.

CHAPTER VII.

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF WALLS.

To ripen any of the sorts of grapes cultivated in this country, sufficiently to be used as table fruit, requires the shelter and reflected heat of a wall.

The proper height of a wall intended for the training of vines upon, must depend in a great measure on local circumstances. In an unsheltered situation, and an aspect exposed to the injurious influence of westerly or south-westerly winds, I have never seen fine grapes produced much higher than eight feet from the ground. But, in situations and aspects of an opposite description, no limit to the height of a wall need be assigned, for, as fine grapes may be matured at the distance of twenty feet from the ground, as at any less height. Grapes, when growing at a less distance than about four feet from the ground, certainly enjoy a considerable increase of reflected heat, particularly if the surface adjoining the wall be paved, or covered with stones, or gravel; but, on the other hand, to counterbalance this advantage, if the aspect be east or west, the sun will shine longer on the upper part of the wall, than on the lower part, in conse

quence of which, the surface of the wall will be found, in general, pretty equally heated in all its parts. But, if the aspect be south, the solar rays during the summer, will strike the entire surface of the wall at the same instant of time, unless there be some local impediment; and in this aspect, therefore, the lower part of the wall will always enjoy an increased degree of warmth from the reflection of the ground. Hence, grapes growing within two or three feet of the bottom of a wall facing the south, will, in general, ripen from ten days to a fortnight earlier than those growing on the upper part of it. There is a disadvantage, however, in training grapes near the ground, as it respects their remaining on the vine after being ripe. If grapes can be kept perfectly dry, they will hang on the vine, and improve in flavour, for a long time after they are ripe; but, if dampness or moisture of any description reach them, the consequences are quickly seen in the decay of the berries. After the middle of October, therefore, it will be found a difficult matter to preserve grapes that hang within two feet of the ground, on account of the damp exhalations that continually arise from the soil at that period of the

year.

If walls be built for the express purpose of producing grapes, the most judicious expenditure of the materials will be in the erection of several low walls, not more than six feet high, in prefer

ence to a small number of very high walls. For the purposes of pruning and training, and the general management of the vines, walls of this height are far more convenient than those of a greater height; and if built to run directly north and south, the entire surface of both sides of each wall will be available for the training of the vines; and as such walls need not be built at a great distance apart, an astonishing quantity of grapes may be thus annually grown on a small extent of ground, by the erection of a few walls of this description, built parallel to, and not far distant from each other.

The best materials for the construction of vine walls, are without doubt, bricks, as they present a more even surface than can be obtained from walls built of any other description of materials; and evenness of surface is a quality that cannot be dispensed with. It is not only necessary for the training of vines with precision, but if the surface of the wall be not smooth and even, the grapes, will, at times, be considerably injured, by being blown to and fro by the wind, against the rough and uneven parts of it.

Dark-coloured flint walls are hotter than those built of brick, but this advantage is more than counterbalanced by their uneven surface. But if the faces of the flints be well hammer-dressed, and the joints of the wall made to run in proper courses, they make a handsome wall, and one

that will absorb and retain heat in a greater de gree than any other.

If, from local causes, neither bricks nor flints can be procured, stone of any description may be substituted, but the darker the colour, and the closer the texture, the more will it absorb and retain heat, and repel moisture; and, consequently, the better will it be adapted for the end in view.

As a substitute for walls, stout ranges of paling, made of well-seasoned wood, or of the planks of old ships, well coated over with paint, are at times erected, but grapes produced in this way, are seldom equal to those grown on walls.

For the foundation of a vine wall, stone is preferable to bricks, the former being more solid and durable. And, if the wall be an outer one, and the soil on the outside of it be of such a description, as to render it necessary that the roots of the vines should be prevented from getting into it, the foundation ought to be deep, and cemented firmly together, so as to make it as solid as possible. But, if the soil on each side of the wall, be such as to make it advantageous for the roots to run freely into it, no greater depth need be gone to, nor should any more cement be used in putting the materials together, than is necessary to make the foundation sufficiently strong and firm to support the superstructure. The drier and looser, indeed, that