100 THE GRAPE CULTURIST. 



had, they may be used without the barnyard manure, 

 but they should be placed in heaps where they can be 

 forked over occasionally, so that they will become sweet- 

 ened, as it is termed, before using ; and it is well to mix 

 a quantity of lime or ashes with them, to assist the 

 decomposition. A bushel of salt to every ten or fifteen 

 loads may also be added with benefit. 



Soils that are more compact, such as are called 

 heavy loam, or approaching a clay, do not need so much 

 of the organic materials as those called light soils, as 

 most of them contain more or less of them ; but they 

 require thorough pulverizing ; after which, if a good 

 dressing of well-rotted barnyard manure is added, little 

 more is needed before planting the vine. Any soil that 

 will produce a first-rate crop of corn or potatoes is rich 

 enough for vines. A few shovelfuls of manure, or two 

 or three quarts of bonedust may be mixed with the soil 

 when the vine is planted, especially if the vine is not 

 one of the strong growing varieties. And it may not be 

 out of place to mention here that there is a great differ- 

 ence in the growth of varieties, and the soil should be 

 prepared with reference to this fact. Some kinds would 

 entirely fail upon soils which would be rich enough for 

 others. If we should make the soil rich enough to pro- 

 duce a strong growth on a feeble growing variety, and 

 then plant it with a strong growing one, there would 

 not only be a waste of materials and labor, but the ram- 

 pant growth produced would be an abomination to the 

 vineyardist when he came to train his vines ; for he not 

 only endeavors to train them, but to control their growth. 



Special Manures. There are many kinds of ma- 

 nures known as " special," some of which are, no doubt, 

 valuable ; but where those materials which have been 

 mentioned can be obtained, there will be no necessity 

 of looking after the specially concentrated manures. 

 Guano, poudrette, superphosphate of lime, etc., may 



