THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 243 



experiment, and after applying the same liquid, when the 

 acidity had passed away, the roots made with vigor and rap- 

 idity ; this formed a plant, now flourishing in the soil. 



No. 8, was another trial with guano, in a more diluted 

 form ; it did not induce the forming of roots, as did some of 

 the others. The reason of this, undoubtedly, was the power- 

 ful nature of this substance, which, in the exposed circum- 

 stances of the roots, was, in all the trials, too strong. 



The cow manure and ashes had the most beneficial effect ; 

 that is, they caused the bottles to be filled, in the least time, 

 with roots and rootlets innumerable : although the strength of 

 the liquid was constantly increasing, there did not appear to 

 be any injurious effect therefrom. 



CONCLUSION. 



The grape vine, in Italy, and in Spain, and the islands of 

 the Mediterranean, as also in its native position, is found to 

 be a plant attaining great age and size ; notwithstanding this, 

 the cultivators of France have so changed its characteristics, 

 that, in some districts there, by their skill, you may find it 

 brought almost to the condition of an annual ; two or three 

 years being the usual time at which they are renewed by lay- 

 ering, and being so close, that it is with difficulty you can 

 pass among them. 



\ With regard to soil, they present as striking a contrast ; 

 they are successfully cultivated in vineyards, where there ap- 

 pears scarcely soil sufficient to retain moisture enough to keep 

 life in the plant ; vineyards, enjoying equally good reputations, 

 are situated where the soil is a rich loam. -^ 



Climate and exposition, as well as soil and manure, have 

 a great bearing on this cultivation. What these effects are, 

 I trust, has been (in the language of others, and by notes of 

 my own,) made sufficiently intelligible to be made of practi- 



