266 GARDENING. 



In soils, whether rich or poor, resting on a hard, 

 impervious subsoil of rock or of hardpan, or on 

 one often or habitually wet, the plant is feeble, diffi- 

 cult to rear, short-lived, and never productive ; and 

 on the north sides of hills, and in the neighbour- 

 hood of large masses of wood and water, it does 

 not thrive. It is only under southern and eastern 

 aspects, and in soils light and warm, and of a me- 

 dium quality as to strength, that the vine attains 

 that degree of perfection of which it is susceptible.* 



It is this last-mentioned circumstance that directs 

 us in the choice and application of manures, and 

 which forbids those of a heating quality, or of any 

 quality in large quantities. The fresh mould of old 

 pasture land, the scrapings of streets, and composts 

 composed of stable litter; the leaves of trees, weeds 

 in a green state, and animal remains of all kinds (as 

 hair, skins, feathers, bones, &c., thoroughly rotted), 

 and applied in moderate doses every second year, 

 form the most approved practice on this head. 



The vine, from the length and pliancy of its 

 branches, is subjected to very different forms, some 

 of which are no doubt dictated by mere fancy, and 

 others by a long experience of their usefulness. 

 Of the last we shall mention, 



1st. The dwarf standard, which is that exclusively 

 employed in large vineyards in the northern parts 



quantity of the crop, abundantly manured. The consequence, 

 as might be expected, was a larger produce, but a diminished 

 price. 



* This delicacy of constitution alone enables us to explain 

 the cause of the great differences found in vines of the same 

 sort, cultivated in the same way, and growing even within sight 

 of each other. The Lafite wine is only found on a farm not 

 exceeding in size 300 acres. The Ostrian, &c.. is the produce 

 of a tract not much larger. The Verdelho grape gives genuine 

 Madeira only in the island of that name, &c., &c. An external 

 mark of a soil fitted for the vine is said by Switzer to be the 

 production of brambles. " Where," he says, " these grow, the 

 vine never fails." 



