34 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



nure ; one eighth oyster shells, or lime and brick rubbish ; 

 one eighth rotten manure ; these articles thrown together in 

 a heap, and so to remain until decomposed and amalgamated, 

 when they should be placed in the border, and thrown loosely 

 together. 



It is unnecessary to attempt to give rules for every kind of 

 soil. One must use his own judgment, and make his border 

 to consist, as near as can be, of the above ingredients. He 

 must bear in mind that, if his soil is a stiff, clayey loam, he 

 must add freely of such materials as will lighten and give 

 permeability to it. If the soil is light, sandy, or gravelly, 

 with the manure should be added a proportion of clay or of 

 clayey loam. The rich alluvion soil, abounding in our West- 

 em and South Western States, will not require any of these 

 strong manures. If any thing is requisite to improve them, 

 it must be shells, charcoal, leaves, small stones, or gravel, — 

 such materials as will loosen the soil. 



If a compost is to be prepared, as is usually recommended 

 by European writers on the cultivation of the grape, by taking 

 the top soil of an old pasture, &c., and throwing them into a 

 heap untU decomposed, two or three years are required before 

 the border is in readiness for the vines ; whereas, by the plan 

 which I have adopted, the vines may be planted immediately, 

 making due allowance in the placing of the vine for its set- 

 tling, wliich will be in proportion to the freshness of the ma- 

 nures, or the carcasses of animals that enter into its compost, 

 which, in dissolving, diminish greatly, and this in ratio to the 

 flesh upon them ; the large bones will change but little for 

 many years. What is wanted in a grape border, is a rich, 

 permeable soil, enduring in its nature, in which the roots can 

 ramble and spread freely. Too much water will injure the 

 fruit ; a deficiency of moisture will prevent its swelling off 

 properly. 



The following account of Soils and Manures, as recom- 

 mended by several eminent cultivators, is annexed : — 



