CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 199 



apply leached ashes in almost unlimited quantities. Un- 

 leached ashes (if they can be obtained) are much more 

 valuable. A hundred bushels might be applied to the 

 acre without injury, and without causing an excessive 

 growth of foliage, as is the case when stable-manure is 

 heavily applied. Probably an annual dressing of fifty 

 bushels of unleached ashes would be found quite sufficient 

 for most lands. If ashes are not to be obtained, we can 

 obtain the elements in crude potash, in ground bones, and 

 in lime. Common ashes will usually yield five and a 

 half pounds of potash to the bushel. As a portion of the 

 potash does not leach, we may say that fifty bushels is 

 equivalent to three hundred pounds of potash, or about 

 two hundred pounds of soda-ash. If we dissolve this 

 amount of potash, and pour it upon fifty bushels of peat 

 (triple this amount would be better), we shall then have 

 obtained a very considerable part of the virtue of the fifty 

 bushels of wood-ashes. For the supply of the phos- 

 phates, and the carbonate of lime, and magnesia, we will 

 resort to bone-dust, or ground bones. This is the safest 

 and most universally esteemed fertilizer. There is not a 

 single particle in the composition of bones which is not 

 of essential service in contributing food to the vine. This 

 will be seen by examining an analysis of the fresh bones 



