To say that the grape-vine is as old as the hills, or that the varying arguments of ancient and modern cultivators respecting the individual modes of treatment are infinite, would be going a little too far in assertion; but we may affirm that it is one of the oldest purveyors to man's gastric appetite, and possesses a separate longevity equal to any other known plant, when nature has accidentally placed it in a region and soil congenial to its constitution, or man has cultivated it in an uninterruptedly sensible manner. We have no records of a grape-vine dying out of old age under such circumstances, while we have plenty yet in their prime that verify the above presumption. These instances are, however, known to be beyond the controlling influence of that mystification and opinionative narrow prejudice which leads some people to believe that, because the grape-vine will for a time devour the strongest and most filthy of manures, it is absolutely necessary to supply such materials ad libitum. Put common-sense to reflect upon what one of the most extreme advocates for such nuisances recommends, and see how it looks.

Besides advising "a soil made up of ordinary richness with leaf-mould, dung, and so forth, we are to add one good horse or cow to every ten square yards," cut into pieces, and applied fresh. Now we admit that the grape-vine is one of the greatest gluttons there is in the vegetable kingdom, when the leaves are in an atmosphere conducive to vigorous development, but, like an over-fed fat hog of limited age, there is not "bone and muscle" enough furnished, in the mean time, to support the wear and tear of the natural lifetime of the subject " Big talk" often comes out of such results for a time, and immense bunches of watery fruit are occasionally produced; but watch the progress for a number of successive years, and our word for it, such gorged gluttons will become much weaker, and more predisposed to disease and barrenness, than where the true constitutional habits have been cared for. The plain fact is, there is nothing mysterious about the cultivation of this plant, neither is there any other that will bear a greater amount of ill-treatment, and again recover.

We have said above that the grapevine is a plant of great longevity; yet some of our cultivators, both in the vineyard and under glass, consider it necessary to replant after a few years of bearing, because, according to their belief, the vines are worn out. Now if we find that, under different circumstances, certain individuals that have received more rational treatment are known to be hundreds of years old, and are still as healthy as they were a century ago, also continuing equally fruitful, and that fruit of the best quality, it stands to reason that there must be a screw loose in such experience somewhere. To secure this robust old age, and the consequent profits arising therefrom, it becomes requisite to consider the true nature of the plant.

First. It is always found to be most at home in a tolerably rich upper base abounding in vegetable matter impregnated with limestone, and accompanied with a well drained subsoil. Second. It is a rampant grower in all its varieties, producing a large volume of branches and leaves, the latter of which respire and perspire very freely, and act by drawing up and elaborating the juices from the roots, and also absorbing the moisture and gases in the atmosphere. According with the amount of surface in these leaves, and concentration of action under the influence of steady heat and light, so will be the corresponding ratio of roots and wood healthy, and of permanent structure, or otherwise. Such being the case, it is easily seen, that if the extension of growth be nnduly encouraged by over-rich compost (more particularly while young), the cellular and vascular tissues will become deranged by the excitement, and neither roots nor branches partake of the indurated character they ought to. Added to this, we have, generally speaking, more close pruning practised not only in winter cutting, but summer shortening, also, on this fast growing vine than any other fruit-bearing plant.

Recapitulate the circumstances, and in the first place we force a plethoric growth by stimulating manures, and afterwards the plant is prevented from performing its proper functions by being permanently cramped into a comparatively very small superficial surface. How, we may ask, is such a being to form an increase of hardened woody fibre in the roots, or how is it possible that they can continue to have strength enough to be vigorous absorbents of the fluids around them? The finale speaks for itself. A premature imbecility, with the consequent tendency to mildew, shank, dry rot, decayed roots, and all the other known and unknown diseases we have to complain of.

To come more practically to the point: Either in the grapery border or outdoor culture, it is indispensable to secure a free passage for the surplus water from the subsoil by good drainage. Make choice of good, friable soil enriched sufficiently with decayed barnyard manure and vegetable mould, and if crushed bones are to be obtained readily, add a portion. No harm will be done by these latter, and no proportions need be given. If the flesh is not on them, they will give out very slowly, and prove permanent. Much as has been written, and many as have been the arguments respecting the composts for grapery borders, I speak with confidence and from experience in stating that better grapes may be grown by simple double trenching, with good drainage, and the addition of a reasonable quantity of the above-mentioned material than are frequently obtained by the most fastidiously formed and ruinously expensive beds that are too often compounded. The following will prove a most efficient bed when the best results are desired:

Dig the border clear out from fifteen to twenty feet in width, from the base front of the house, and two feet six inches deep. Let the bottom level slope somewhat towards the outside line, along which excavate another foot deeper, and the same wide. Fill this drain with rough stones or other such material, and cover six inches of the same over the whole base. If the soil taken out, or any portion of it, be of good quality, reserve it, and mix one-fourth in quantity of barnyard manure and decomposed vegetable matter with one bushel of crushed bones to every cubic yard in bulk. Whatever quantity of earth may be required besides that taken out, procure it from a pasture of friable loam, and use only the upper turf sod. Cover the drainage base with these sods, also, and fill in the prepared compost to one foot above the ground level.