102 FRUIT-GARDENING. 



days from the time tlie buds rise till the fruit is set ; and that 

 fresh horse-dung be spread over the ground in autumn as a 

 manure, and also to protect the roots from the inclemency of 

 the weather. Some, however, disapprove of manuring high, 

 as being calculated to produce wood rather than fruit. 



Whatever the soil may be, whether light or heavy, fertile 

 or barren, grape-vines will not flourish well if there be an 

 excess of moisture in it. TJnderdraining is the first requi- 

 site. The next thing is thorough and deep pulverization, 

 either with a subsoil-plough, or by spading two or three spits 

 deep. If the soil be heavy, the more sand, sawdust, or chip 

 manure one can mingle with it the better it will be for 

 the vines. If there be a large proportion of sand, let clay be 

 mingled with it. Clay will render it more productive for 

 Grapes as well as for grass, or a crop of cereal grain. 



It has been proved by repeated experiments that the best 

 manure for vines is the branches pruned from the vines them- 

 selves, cut into small pieces, and mixed with the soil by means 

 of a garden-hoe. Dr. Liebig, in his " Organic Chemistry," 

 mentions several instance of vines being kept in a thriving con- 

 dition for from ten to thirty years by the trimmings of vines 

 alone. The discovery was made by poor peasants, who could 

 not afibrd to buy the ordinary kinds of manure. Vines cut 

 into small pieces will be found an excellent fertilizer on heavy 

 soils, when there is an excess of clay ; and it is a good prac- 

 tice to dispose of all prunings in that manner. If the pieces 

 be covered lightly with earth as soon as they are cut, they 

 will decay in a few months, and make excellent mould. 



MODES OF PROPAGATING GRAPES. 



The general mode of propagating the vine is by cuttings, 

 either a foot or more long, with a portion of two-year-old 

 wood ; or short, with only one bud, or one bud and a half joint. 

 Vines may be obtained at the nurseries, propagated either 

 fr-om layers, cuttings, or eyes. Plants raised from cuttings are 



