— 
is; consequently they are always found in those situations. But I do not think the 
question is clearly put. All organic matter is more or less nitrogenous, not excepting 
sugar and starch. If the question was, “Do they live on nitrogenous substances!” L 
would answer that they invariably do, as far as my knowledge goes, 
Q.—lIs the practice of manuring with nitrogenous substances good ? 
Prof. Panron.—You mean so as to avoid this? Well, I think there might be some 
- specific times when it would not probably be well, It has been ascertained that fields of 
wheat, where nitrogenous manures have been applied in excess, are more likely to be 
affected by rust, Why? Because they have brought out too luxuriant a growth, and 
consequently the cells are more or less in an abnormal condition, which renders them 
liable to the rust. Now, that is the case with rust. I am not just prepared to say it is 
the case with other forms, but where there is too luxuriant a growth I think a plant is 
placed in a position in which it is liable to attacks of parasites, and in that case a person 
requires to know the nature of the soil. If the soil is already in good heart and likely 
3 to bring about a fair condition of plant growth, I do not think it wise to overdose it with 
nitrogenous manure. I should say too much barnyard manure would not do if the land 
was in fine condition. 
VALUE OF COAL ASHES AS A FERTILISER. 
Q-—Has soft coal ashes any virtue, such as oxide of iron? 
~~ Prof. Panron.—I am inclined to say not very much, You will be likely to have 
enough oxide of iron in your soil. I cannot say what the composition of soft coal ashes: 
is, but as far as hard coal ashes are concerned there is nothing there; all they can do 
is to open up the soil, and I would think pretty much the same in the case of soft 
coal. There may be some sulphide of iron, and that may supply some iron, but I do not 
think there is much in it. 
HOW TO BEST PRUNE A COMMERCIAL VINEYARD IN ONTARIO, 
The Presipent —We will now take up the subject of grape pruning, on which Mr. 
A. MeNeill, Science Master of the Windsor High School, who is also an extensive vine~ 
yardist, will now address us. 
e Mr. McNeiu.—I expect that my remarks will have the effect of eliciting consider- 
able criticism, and I hope to profit by it, as pruning the grape vine is a very serious 
question with me. I have invested some little cash in the enterprise, and it has now 
reached such proportions that it isa case of swim or die. I have been led to study the 
nature of the grape, and to attempt to apply the principles learned to the 
pruning of it, and I have selected a number of points in grape growth that I think we 
can apply directly in the pruning. First, we notice that the growth tends to divide itself 
into many small branches. Allow a grape vine to grow unrestrained, and you will have a 
number of fine, small branches in the first, second and third year. These branches will 
‘not produce fruit for a number of years, and then only very small fruit. Secondly, it 
has a strong tendency to develop the higher buds ; in the natural course of things these 
higher buds would develop and the lower buds would go undeveloped, although now there 
is comparatively little difference in their relative strength. Thirdly, other things being 
equal, the buds are developed neither at the base of the cane nor at the top of it, but 
mid-way—I am speaking now principally of the Concord. Fourthly, that a sharp bend 
in the cane has a tendency to develop the bud just above it. Fifthly, the construction 
of the terminal bud while in the green state has a tendency to hasten the maturity and 
development of the tissue and buds below it. The effect, however, varies with the 
distance from the terminal bud. That is to say, if I take this while in the green state 
there will be a tendency to develop the bud next to it, and a certain tendency to develop 
the next, with the effect of lessening as we get further from the bend. Sixthly, with 
a strong growth in one cane rests the growth and developments of the other canes. 
Now, I have selected out of a number of principles these six, and propose founding. 
& whatever system I may present you upon those six principles. (From this point onward 
