MONTHLY CALENDAR. 231 



ized charcoal. It would certaiuly puzzle them to know how these heterogeneous 

 materials could produce such a delicious repast. It is doubtful, however, if 

 they would consider them delicious. It is more probable that, with one 

 terrific whine about the degeneracy of the times, they would bound through 

 the nearest window, in search of their exquisite old hips, haws, &c. While 

 they are hopelessly trying to find them, let us attend to the culture of our fruit. 

 6i6. Vi7ies. — This is the most useful, ii not the most delicious, of all fruits. 

 Some think the pine preferable ; but nothing can exceed in grace and beauty 

 a noble vine, laden with its rich clusters. It is one of the, if not the most 

 nutritious of all fruits, and forms a main article of diet in many countries 

 at the present day. It may also be said to constitute the backbone of our 

 desserts throughout the year. Where several houses are devoted to its culture, 

 grapes may be had every day, from the 1st of January to the end of Decembe-v. 

 The successful cultivation of the grape-vine has been a leading object with 

 all gardeners in this country from the time of its introduction by the monks 

 to the present daj'. Every variety of soil, and mode of treatment, have been 

 tried, and so marvellous is the power of the vine in adapting itself to varying 

 circumstances, that most of them have been more or less successful. On the 

 poorest and the richest soils ; in borders eight feet and borders two feet deep ; 

 among masses of brick and stone and putrid carrion ; in the wettest and dri- 

 est situations, — good grapes have occasionall}'^ been produced. A few leading 

 principles, however, seem to form the basis of the successful culture of the 

 grape vine. It should be planted on a dry bottom. The soil should be light, 

 rich, and need not exceed three feet in depth. Its roots should be kept at the 

 same or a few degrees higher temj)erature than its branches. These three 

 points will secure abundance of healthy roots. Upon this, and a liberal supply 

 of food, will depend the health and strength of the top. The vine is, in cer- 

 tain stages of its growth, what is termed a gros s feeder j — hence has originated 

 the gross absurdity of men attemj^ting to feed it with carrion. No sooner, 

 however, does a vine-root reach carrion, than its course follows in another 

 direction ; or, if this is impossible, it plunges into the putrid mass and dies. 

 It not only cannot absorb carrion, but carrion kills the spongioles, or feeding- 

 part of the root. The elements of the carrion might, indeed, afibrd nourishment 

 to the vine, but man's stupidity has placed it exactly in the position to 

 prevent it, for as long a period as possible, from being separated into its ele- 

 ments, and keep it in that state in which no root can absorb it. Exposed to 

 the air, or thrown into water, the carrion would soon have been decomposed, 

 and become acceptable as plant-food. Buried in a vine-border, it is locked 

 up for months, on wet soils for 3-ears, and becomes a poisonous instead of an 

 enriching agent. The best mode of feeding vines during their growing and 

 finiiting stages, is either by a liberal application of manure- water^ or a rich 

 top-dressing of the very best manure. Both methods may be adopted, or 

 only one, as seems best ; but by either or both systems, the best food of the 

 right quality, in such a state that the vine can feed upon it, would speedily be 

 brought within reach of the roots. 



