GRAPE-VINE. 205 



This Polish prince procured pots with notches on each 

 side about half-way of the depth, into which was laid a 

 young branch of the vine with fruit on it, having first 

 been bent so as to make a small bruise in the branch, 

 that the sap might escape to form a root in the pot, 

 which was- then filled up with suitable earth, and placed 

 on the ground or a stool, according to the situation of the 

 vine : it was kept regularly watered, and soon sent a root 

 into the earth, which, although it supplied the young 

 fruit with additional nourishment, and greatly enlarged 

 the size, yet naturally kept back the ripening. When the 

 frost was expected, the branch was cut off close to the 

 pot, and removed into the house, where it continued to 

 vegetate, the bend or slight section having produced the 

 double effect of turning the descending sap to the profit 

 of the fruit, as well as of forming fibres for a vine that 

 could be planted out in the following spring. 



These pots were brought to table when other grapes 

 were gone, and had all the freshness required, with the 

 autumnal beauty on the leaves. By this means grapes 

 may be procured all the year, or until early varieties have 

 been forced. 



Vines have ever been found to thrive best on the banks 

 of rivers, or where their roots can draw moisture in abund- 

 ance, as is frequently remarked in scripture. 



It has been stated, that the blood of animals, applied 

 about the roots, greatly nourishes the vine: this must 

 be owing to the quantity of saline particles which it con- 

 tains. 



Mr. Daws, of Slough, near Windsor, has made the ex- 

 periment of painting one half of a wall, that was covered 

 with a vine, black, and leaving the other half in its com- 

 mon state. That part of the vine which covered the 

 black wall, ripened the grapes earlier, and yielded about 

 three times the weight pf fruit that the other half pro- 

 duced. 



