CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 201 



are the desideratum, it will be prudent to borrow money 

 in order to procure a good supply of the dust. He is a 

 shrewd usurer who regards manure as the best security 

 on which to loan money to the agriculturist. As we have 

 found such a large percentage of lime in the ashes of the 

 vine, we should naturally conclude that this substance 

 also should be liberally supplied. This is indeed true, 

 and we notice that the grape always thrives in a lime- 

 stone soil. The action of lime is twofold: it enters 

 directly into the combination of almost all classes of 

 plants, and is therefore valuable as food; and it also 

 serves another important purpose, in its chemical effect 

 upon the organic matter contained in the soil. If we use 

 bones in considerable quantity, as before directed, we 

 shall have nearly the amount of phosphate and carbonate 

 of lime (about 60 per cent of the bone) that will be 

 needed by the vine as a direct food. But there are many 

 soils that would receive natural benefit by the chemical 

 action of lime upon them. Heavy soils inclining to clay 

 are rendered much more friable and porous to receive 

 the gases of the atmosphere. There is also a considera- 

 ble quantity of vegetable and animal matter, worms, and 

 animalcule, in the soil, upon which the lime has a direct 

 effect, reducing them to food for the vine. 



