60 ON MANURE. 



as valuable manures, yielding, during their decomposi- 

 tion, a great supply of nutritious matter. 



A vast number of other substances well known as 

 manures might be enumerated, but though many of 

 these would be found to be very valuable with refer- 

 ence to their immediate effect, their good qualities be- 

 ing of transient duration, would be entirely dissipated 

 before the roots of the vines could derive any lasting 

 benefit from them. Moreover, powerful manures of 

 short duration excite vines to a sort of premature 

 growth, and when the roots are becoming strong and 

 vigorous, and capable of absorbing with advantage a 

 greater quantity of nutriment, the manure is exhaust- 

 ed, and the plants immediately make a retrograde 

 movement, in consequence of having been unnaturally 

 excited by a gluttonous supply of stimulating food. 

 Steadiness of supply and permanency of duration, are 

 the two grand requisites of all manures intended to be 

 deposited in borders appropriated for the growth of 

 vines ; and those already enumerated have been found 

 by experience to possess these valuable qualities in a 

 greater degree than any other. 



As a point of culture of great importance to be at- 

 tended to, in depositing manure in the soil, care must 

 be taken not to dig it in too deeply. The roots of 

 vines should be induced to extend themselves in a hori- 

 zontal manner, and as near the surface of the border as 

 possible. Solar heat is generally supposed to pene- 

 trate to the depth of three feet, but its effects at that 

 distance from the surface cannot be very strong, espe- 

 cially in soils that are of an adhesive nature. The 

 food, therefore, that is provided for the roots of vines, 

 should lie imbedded in the soil in the form of a hori- 

 zontal stratum or layer, the top of which should be 

 about six inches, and the bottom not more than two 

 feet, below the surface. Manure so deposited will cause 



