FERTILIZERS FOR GRAPES 107 



Over-rich soils. 



Some soils are too rich for the grape. On these the growth is 

 over-luxuriant, the wood does not mature in the autumn, fruit- 

 buds do not form and the fruit is poor in quality. Certain 

 varieties can stand a richer soil than others. Over-richness is 

 a trouble that may cure itself as the vines come in full bearing 

 and make greater demands on the soil for food. It is well, 

 however, on a soil that is suspected of being too rich or so 

 proved by the behavior of the vines, to provide an extra wire 

 on the trellis, to prune little and thus take care of the rampant 

 growth. Some soils, however, and this is often the case, are 

 so rich that the grape cannot be made to thrive in them ; the 

 vines waste their substance in riotous living, producing luxuri- 

 ant foliage and lusty wood but little or no fruit. 



