APPENDIX. 213 



ON THE MANURING OF THE SOIL IN VINEYARDS.* 



" In reference to an article in your paper, No. 7, 1838, and 

 No. 29, 1839, 1 cannot omit the opportunity of again calling 

 the public attention to the fact that nothing more is neces- 

 sary for the manure of a vineyard, than the branches which 

 are cut from the vines themselves. 



" My vineyard has been manured in this way for eight 

 years, without receiving any other kind of manure, and yet 

 more beautiful and richly laden vines could scarcely be 

 pointed out. I formerly followed the method usually prac- 

 tised in this district, and was obliged in consequence to 

 purchase manure to a large amount. This is now entirely 

 saved, and my land is in excellent condition. 



66 When I see the fatiguing labour used in the manuring 

 of vineyards horses and men toiling up the mountains with 

 unnecessary materials I feel inclined to say to all, come to 

 my vineyard and see how a bountiful Creator has provided 

 that vines shall manure themselves, like the trees in a forest, 

 and even better than they ! The foliage falls from trees in 

 a forest, only when they are withered, and they lie for years 

 before they decay ; but the branches are pruned from the 

 vine in the end of July or beginning of August whilst still 

 fresh and moist. If they are then cut into small pieces and 

 mixed with the earth, they undergo putrefaction so com- 

 pletely, that, as 1 have learned by experience, at the end 

 of four weeks not the smallest trace of them can be 

 found." 



* Slightly abridged from an article by M. Krebs of Seeheim in the 

 " Zeitschrift fur die landwirthschaftlichen Vereine des Grosherzogthums 

 Hessen." No. 28, July 9, 1840. 



