THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 241 



circumstances of soil and situation will vary, in some degree, 

 the results of similar trials in other localities is very probable. 



The effect of different manures in promoting the grotvth of 

 the roots of the vine. — This summer, I placed small glass bottles, 

 filled with rainwater, under the stems of grape vines, that had 

 roots about one and a half inches long on them ; they reached 

 the water, touching it sufficiently to encourage the growth in 

 the root ; the bottles were then secured in this position. In 

 seven days, the roots had pushed strongly into the water. I 

 then added different manures, as liquids, to the water, in a 

 very diluted state ; the object being to have the roots of the 

 vine open to view, that the effect of the different manures 

 in producing rootlets or spongioles could be observed. 



No. 1, had a grain of guano, in the powder, added ; the 

 effect of this was, that, in forty-eight hours, the rootlets 

 began to put out from the sides of the root, and to consume 

 the liquid. I then took a small teaspoonful of the guano 

 and mixed it with half a gill of water, and, as the Uquid was 

 consumed by the roots in the bottle, it was filled up with 

 this. After a few applications of the guano, the rootlets, 

 which at first put forth and grew freely, ceased to grow, or 

 to consume the liquid ; they soon died, and, on removing the 

 bottle, I found them in a putrid state. This experiment, 

 though unsuccessful, was satisfactory, as it confirmed the 

 opinion I had formed of this manure, that, when applied 

 in a highly diluted form, it is valuable, and that one cannot 

 well be too cautious in using it. 



The second experiment was simple rainwater ; the root in 

 this grew very slowly, and in five or six weeks made only 

 three or four inches, with four rootlets, about one inch long, 

 each ; they continued to grow until removed. 



No. 3, was manured with the liquid from a teaspoonful of 

 ashes from the wood of the grape, soaked in half a gill of 

 rainwater ; the effect was sudden and great ; and the roots 

 formed so fast, that, in three weeks, there were thousands of 

 feeders in the bottle, and, in bright days, it had to be filled 

 oi 



