206 THE CULTUBB OF THE GRAPE. 



eighty-six feet, and nineteen vines being the number planted. 

 I should have planted, in the same space, twenty-nine vines, 

 or fifty per cent, greater. And this difference in the num- 

 ber of the vines has a very important bearing upon the sub- 

 ject, as the roots of the vine in his border have this per 

 centage more space to roam for nourishment. Allowing that 

 the vine, thus situated, does perfect a good crop of fine fruit, 

 still, by the plan of close planting, with a very rich border, 

 the difference in the product must be very much in favor of 

 the latter system. 



Mr. Hovey remarks, " All that is necessary, in our opin- 

 ion, to produce the very best grapes, is a good, rich, loamy 

 soil, well top-dressed, every year, with old stable manure and 

 guano." I agree with him perfectly, so far as the soil is 

 concerned, and go even further than he does, for if this good, 

 7ic7i, loamy soil is had, you have already every thing that is 

 wanted, so far as nourishing matter is concerned, and there 

 can be no necessity for this yearly application of stable ma- 

 nure and guano, — this latter article the most concentrated 

 and powerful manure known. (I cannot see the propriety 

 of recommending the use of this, when the application of 

 decomposed animal substances is forbidden.) If such a soil 

 can be found, the only preparation requisite before plant- 

 ing the vine, will be, if the situation requires it, some kind 

 of application, such as shells or charcoal screenings, which 

 would have a tendency to loosen and give permeability thereto, 

 so as to allow the rain to pass freely through the soil, and, at 

 the same time, make it easy for the roots to spread. This is 

 just the soil we are attempting to form when we prepare the 

 border, as directed under the proper head. In Massachu- 

 setts, I suppose such a soil will rarely be met with, and a 

 prepared border must be resorted to. 



A benefit to be derived from the top-dressing of stable 

 manure and guano, according to Mr. Hovey, is, that the 

 roots are thus brought to the surface, " rather than that they 

 should go to the bottom after the dead carcasses." These 



