210 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



when it is offensive. It is so with any substance ; and 

 if you choose first to bring the material into this state and 

 then to apply it, it is your own fault. Even leaves and the 

 young shoots of the vines, if allowed to ferment and become 

 putrid in a tank, are as much so as any manure ; and when 

 the liquid from these is applied to the roots of the plant on 

 the inside of the house, there is nothing more offensive, or 

 that retains the odor so long. But this is no evidence that 

 the liquid is injurious, or any reason why it should not be 

 used, but it is a hint to the cultivator to apply it before it 

 becomes thus offensive. 



Mr. Hovey uses, in his border, the richest soil or loam, and 

 adds stable manure, ground bones, and guano, with liquid 

 applications in seasons of drought, in summer, after mulching 

 the border. 



I use a good loam, with a large supply of whole bones and 

 other manures, but also a good portion of shells and old 

 bricks and mortar, and do not apply liquid or liquid manures 

 to vines thus situated. Thus, it appears that, if the one has 

 a rich border, the other does not differ materially from it. 



To make this discussion of any benefit to the practical 

 gardener, it is necessary that he should read the whole mat- 

 ter and hear both sides, and judge for himself what is best 

 for this purpose. I have quoted all the articles from the 

 Chronicle, and, to express my own opinion upon the question 

 raised, I have appended notes to the different suggestions, as 

 occasion seemed to require. 



" Questions for Vine Grroivers. — Being near the residence 

 of a celebrated grape-grower, (whose name it is unnecessary 

 to mention,) I had a great desire to pay him a visit. I 



learned, however, that Mr. was not at home, but was 



invited by an assistant to look round the place. We pro- 

 ceeded directly to the vineries, in which I found the vines 

 healthy and vigorous ; they were old established vines, and 

 were producing a very full crop, particularly some Cannon 

 Hall Muscats. Proceeding onward, however, to some newly 



