FRUITS. 149 



dry, build stone drains. Level ground will answer ; but the 

 sweetest grapes and finest wines are always grown on the hill- 

 sides. The heat that is absorlied and radiated from the ground 

 does more to ripen grapes than the direct rays of the sun ; and, 

 on the hill-sides, the fruit has the advantage of this heat. The 

 best exposure is south south-west, and west and south-east, in 

 the order given. Least favorable, east north-east and north. 

 The vine should not be shaded directly, either by trees or Ijuild- 

 ings ; though it is a great advantage to have protection against 

 north and north-east winds. In a small vineyard, this may be 

 given by a ten-foot fence ; in a large oije, by a double belt of 

 evergreen trees, planted in a semi-circle. Whatever soil is used, 

 it should be well ploughed to the depth of one foot before 

 planting the vines. 



Manures. — The requirements of the vine are few and simple. 

 Stimulating manures, applied to the vines, produce a rampant 

 growth of leaves and wood, but no fruit. It is the same with 

 the strawberry. Use, in moderate quantities only, mineral 

 manures, and old, well-rotted compost. The best compost 

 is made by mixing and heaping up grass-sods, fresh manure, 

 muck or leaves, with a little ashes and gypsum, adding bones, 

 when they are to be had. Turn the heap over occasionally, 

 and when it is reduced to a uniform rich mould, it is in a fit 

 state to nourish the vine. Cow manure will improve a sandy 

 soil, and horse manure a strong clay soil. In France and 

 Germany, manure mixed with fresh earth is annually carried 

 on the backs of laborers and placed around the vines ; the old 

 soil having been previously removed to the depth of six inches. 

 They also dig in the prunings of the vine, — a rational and 

 most excellent practice. Their soil has been exhausted by 

 centuries of the same cultivation, while ours is virgin to the 

 vine, and does not require such treatment. Mr. Bull recom- 

 mends " ploughing the land to the depth of nine inches, and 

 the first year apply thirty or forty loads of compost to the acre, 

 to promote the formation of roots. After that, twenty bushels 

 of bone-dust, twenty of wood-ashes and five of gypsum arc a 

 sufficient dressing for an acre, for three years." 



Planting. — The best time, in this State, is spring, just before 

 the buds begin to push, except in very dry and warm soils. 

 Here it is better to plant in the fall, as soon as the leaves drop ; 



