198 CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



sis of the must-pulp, or juice of the ripe grape, shows 

 more than 13 per cent of sulphuric acid, a most ex- 

 traordinary increase, and, we believe, a larger percentage 

 than is found in any other fruit." This is a larger per- 

 centage in the fruit than is given by most chemists. 



These analyses are a clear indication that potash, lime, 

 and bone are three prominent and necessary fertilizers. 

 These may all be applied in large quantities, with less 

 danger of over-stimulating than in the use of stable- 

 manure or vegetable matter. Coal-ashes have but very 

 slight traces of potassa, and have but little value for the 

 vineyard, except as they may contain sulphate of lime (in 

 which case they will serve an important purpose, as will 

 be seen hereafter), and also for the mechanical purpose 

 of making the soil more porous. Wood-ashes, on the 

 contrary, contain "a large amount of potash, and also 

 phosphate of lime, and magnesia. The ashes of oak- 

 wood contain 38 per cent of potassa, and about an equal 

 amount of the carbonates and phosphates of lime and 

 magnesia. As before stated, the ashes of the vine have a 

 still larger percentage of potassa. These elements are 

 therefore valuable, as entering directly into the composi- 

 tion of the vine, and also because the potash promotes 

 the dissolution of vegetable matter in the soil. We may 



