164 THE CULTURE OE THE GRAPE. 



he could give but little manure to his vineyard, has been cir- 

 culated within a few years, and is often referred to, verbally, 

 as proof of the uselessness of the practice. The account 

 went on to say, that, finally, having no manure at all, as the 

 yield of the vineyard was less and less, from the constantly 

 diminished quantity of manure given to the vines, and he be- 

 coming poorer and poorer in consequence, being almost in 

 despair at the prospect of starvation for himself and family, 

 the thought occurred to him that the trimmings of the vines 

 might be of service ; accordingly, the young shoots and leaves 

 were cut into pieces and dug into the earth. The result of 

 this application was a fine yield of fruit. I do not question 

 the correctness of this story : it is not improbable. But, in 

 my estimation, it is proof of the correctness of some of my 

 statements regarding manures, and is evidence of the impor- 

 tance of rich soil, and, at the same time, is admitting the 

 fact of the practice of manuring vineyards, for it was the de- 

 ficiency of the manure which caused this vineyard to give 

 fruit in a less quantity, when it had been accustomed to this 

 annual stimulant. According to the story, the vines, at last, 

 almost ceased to bear fruit ; as this occurred the year previ- 

 ous to the manuring the land with the trimmings of the grape, 

 it is not unreasonable to suppose that, by this cessation, the 

 plants were strengthened, and enabled, the coming spring, to 

 show a good crop ; and, having been kept without any stimu- 

 lant the year previous, and but little, if any, the year before 

 that, this application, at midsummer, just at the moment when 

 the juices being washed to the roots by the rains at this most 

 suitable time, would have the most beneficial effect. It is, 

 unquestionably, evidence of the value of the trimmings of the 

 vine, but, also, at the same time, of the value of manures. 



If I were about to locate a vineyard, a good loam should 

 be sought ; one that is readily worked, and made permeable 

 to the effects of sun and air. If it were of a clayey nature, 

 the incorporating of a good proportion of shells, old lime rub- 

 bish and bricks, bones, and charcoal screenings would improve 



