51 



mulching has served its purpose, it can readily be worked into the land 

 by the cultivating implements if the layer is not too thick. A layer 

 three or four inches thick will be sufficient for practical purposes. 

 .Mulching should be done before the hot weather Las fully set in. 



MANURING. 



Some soils contain naturally large deposits of suitable plant food for 

 ihe Grape Vine, and these will require but little or no assistance in 

 manuring for many years. Others again are' poorer in plant food, and 

 . deficiences have to be made good at an earlier period, and before the 

 plants suffer through lack of nourishment. It is w r rong to suppose that 

 manure is not wanted for Vines, an opinion that is common, as the 

 'Grape, like all other fruits, must be able to obtain the necessary amount 

 of congenial plant food from the soil, or otherwise growth will fail more 

 or less. Though it is quite true that the excessive use of manure, while 

 conducing to strong growth and heavy crops, will cause deterioration in 

 : the quality of fruit, and more particularly with wine Grapes, yet, on the 

 other hand, supplies sufficient to keep up a healthy normal growth will 

 "be beneficial. In exhausted soils the fruit is not only limited in quantity 

 and size, but is often also poorer in quality than it would be under more 

 favourable conditions. Even soils that were originally rich may after 

 a while become more or less exhausted, and cease to give satisfactory 

 returns without assistance in the form of manure. Certain essential 

 minerals, such as lime, potash, or phosphorus, may be lacking in the soil, 

 and a deficiency of either will prevent satisfactory growth. Any of 

 these materials, when lacking, can be replaced at a comparatively small 

 cost. Potash, according to the writer's experience, is more frequently 

 lacking in vineyards than other minerals, and many of the failures, 

 either wholly or partially, are due to its absence, or presence in insufficient 

 quantity. Stable or farmyard manure is an excellent general fertilizer 

 for weakly or exhausted Grape Vines, as it contains all the essentials 

 for plant growth. The work of manuring may, however, often be done 

 more effectively and economically by the use of special fertilizers. 

 Annual and moderate dressings of manure are more effective than 

 heavier ones given every two or three years, as steady regular growth 

 is better than over-vigour at one period and a lack of strength at another. 

 Table Grapes, as a rule, may be more freely stimulated by the use of 

 manure than kinds that are grown for wine, raisins, or currants, as a 

 lower density in the juice and a lesser degree of sweetness are of no 

 material importance. 



INJURIOUS INSECTS. 



Cultivators of the Grape are troubled with various insect pests which 

 sometimes cause a great amount of injury The more prominent of these 

 are as follows : 



