SOIL AND SITUATION. 99 



The compost should be frequently turned over, so 

 that it may become fine before it is wanted for use. It 

 will seldom be fit to use in less than six months, and it 

 is better to let it remain one year. Ashes may be applied 

 to the compost at anytime, with benefit; also ground 

 bones, charcoal, horn shavings, offal from the butchers, 

 refuse from rope walks, woolen and cotton factories, etc. ; 

 in short, almost any such materials may be mixed in ; 

 they are all good, but not positively necessary, nor worth 

 while spending any great amount of money or time to 

 obtain. Lime and ashes are both very beneficial to light 

 soils, but they may be applied alone, and upon the sur- 

 face of the soil after the vines are planted. Lime, espe- 

 cially, should be applied in this manner, as it descends 

 rapidly into the soil and needs no mixing with it ; be- 

 sides, when applied upon the surface it will often assist 

 in the destruction of the larvae of insects, in tiie decom- 

 position of vegetable matter, etc. Shell lime is consid- 

 ered the best, but the difference is so slight that it will 

 not pay to transport it any great distance if stone lime 

 can be had near at hand. 



The compost should be spread upon the soil and 

 plowed in, as has been described, before the vines are 

 planted. 



The quantity may vary from fifty to five hundred 

 two-horse wagonloads per acre, but it is not judicious 

 to put on too much at first, as it will cause a rampant 

 growth ; it is not desirable to produce such, as it will be 

 troublesome to keep it in check when we come to train 

 the vine. It is better to apply sufficient to give the 

 vines a good start and apply more in after years as 

 needed. 



There are sections of the country where there are 

 sandy and gravelly soils that are well suited for vine- 

 yards, but barnyard manure can not he obtained. If 

 either muck, mud from streams, or leaf-mold can be 



