132 VINES MANURED WITH THEIR OWN CUTTINGS. 



vineyard and see how a bountiful Creator has provided that 

 vines should manure themselves, like the trees in a forest, and 

 even better than they !' The foliage falls from trees in a forest, 

 only when the leaves are withered, and they lie for years before 

 they decay ; but the branches are pruned from the vine about the 

 end of July or the beginning of August, while still fresh and 

 moist. If they are then cut into small pieces and mixed with 

 the earth, they undergo putrefaction so completely, that, as I 

 have learned from experience, at the end of four weeks not the 

 smallest trace of them can be found." 



192. The following account from a poorer vine-grower, 

 which is to a similar purpose, is instructive, as showing of how 

 much value a little intelligent observation may become. " For 

 the last ten years I have been unable to place dung on my vine- 

 yard, because I am poor, and can buy none. But I was very 

 unwilling to allow my vines to decay, as they are my only source 

 of support in my old age ; and I often walked very anxiously 

 amongst them, without knowing what I should do. At last my 

 necessities became greater, which made me more attentive ; so I 

 remarked that the grass was longer on some spots, where the 

 branches of the vine fell, than on those on which there were none. 

 So I thought upon the matter, and then said to myself : If these 

 branches can make the grass large, strong, and green, they must 

 also be able to make my plants grow better, and become strong 

 and green. I dug therefore my vineyard as deep as if I would 

 put dung into it, and cut the branches into pieces, placing them 

 in the holes, and covering them with earth. In a year I had 

 the great satisfaction to see my barren vineyard become quite 

 beautiful. This plan I continued every year, and now my vines 

 grow splendidly, and remain the whole summer green, even in 

 the greatest heat. All my neighbours wonder very much how 

 my vineyard is so rich, and that I obtain so many grapes from 

 it, and yet they all know that I have put no dung upon it for 

 ten years." 



193. Although, therefore, it is probable that all plants and 

 trees, in full leaf, could grow without any other source of car- 

 bonic acid than the atmosphere, an additional supply encourages 



