52 THE GKAPE. 



and quickly putrefying portions of the animal body, with- 

 out any reference to the bones. Here we will subscribe 

 to the recommendation, because it is consistent with na- 

 tu^e, and furnishes along with other useful properties, the 

 often most wanting requirement, lime ; in this all grape 

 growers are agreed, and the invariable prosperity of our 

 pet, in places where limestone abounds among the soil, 

 produces the most conclusive evidence. There is little 

 doubt but the want of this substance is the reason why 

 some of our vignerons have occasion to complain of rot 

 and want of success in various ways ; and here we may 

 ask, whoever saw a grape vine that did not do well, and 

 produce fruit of good quality, providing the climate was 

 suitable, and the roots could creep along under the soil, 

 and lie upon the surface or in the fissures of a limestone 

 rock. 



There are other persons who make the beds from three 

 to four feet deep of suitable materials, but use such quan- 

 tities of the richer quality, with insufficient drainage, that 

 the whole bulk, after a time, becomes sodden, and imper- 

 vious to either sun or air, in which no root can exist, much 

 less extend itself. These are some of the many causes 

 why our graperies so soon become weak and unproduc- 

 tive; yet the natural constitutional powers of the grape 

 vine are very strong, and of great longevity ; it is a gross 

 feeder and can absorb a large amount of food, but when 

 thus maltreated, although it may bear such usage for a 

 time with much pertinacity, it will in the long run (like an 

 overgorged glutton) become deranged, its physical func- 

 tions will be weakened, and it either dies of plethora, or 

 wears on an exhausted existence, producing little or noth- 

 ing but watery leaves, and weakly branches. 



If such very .strong growth were really requisite to pro- 

 duce the finest bunches, or berries, and could be obtained 



