BRIGHT ON GRAPE CULTURE. 43 



scarcely expect it will be done unless some cheap means 

 of accomplishing this object can be suggested. 



One very cheap and efficient means of mulching a 

 vineyard^ which we have practised to some extent and 

 find quite satisfactory, is to plant in a drill between the 

 rows of vines, the Southern Field Pea or Cow Pea, a 

 leguminous plant very much employed in Virginia and 

 other Southern States, as a green crop to renovate worn- 

 out soils, by ploughing under while in flower. This 

 plant will grow in any soil, if supplied with lime, and 

 will endure the severest drouth without flagging. It 

 sends its roots very deeply into the sub-soil, and obtains 

 the larger portion of its nutriment from the atmosphere. 

 It has a stalk almost as large and firm as that of a to- 

 mato vine, and spreads widely over the surface of the 

 ground. In ninety days it produces as much mulching 

 material, and as much green matter of tops and roots, 

 for manure, as an acre of good clover, and of precisely 

 the same character and value, either for manure or food. 

 It is well known, we presume, to all intelligent readers 

 of modern agricultural literature, that the stalk and 

 vine of the pea is richer in nitrogen, (or ammoniacal 

 substances,) and alkaline salts, than the best of wheat 

 or rye straw, and hence must form a very valuable ma- 

 terial for mulching or manure. 



Our method of planting the pea is this : we culti- 

 vate the spaces between the rows of vines very lightly 

 with the horse-hoe, in the spring, and about the first of 

 June open a very shallow furrow with a small plow, in 



