MANURES. 27 



for the subsoil plow, in such soils, will leave an 

 opening at the bottom of the furrow, which 

 will for a time serve the purpose of a drain. 

 There is this marked difference between sub- 

 soiling and trench plowing : the operation of 

 the first is confined chiefly to loosening the sub- 

 soil, while the latter not only loosens the sub- 

 soil, but mixes it with the upper or surface 

 soil. The value of trenching, trench plowing, 

 and subsoiling, may be taken in the order in 

 which they are named ; and it is only the ex- 

 pense of the first which should prevent its gen- 

 eral adoption for fruit culture. 



Manures. A few brief remarks may here be 

 added on the subject of manures. The vine is 

 said to be a gross feeder. To some extent this 

 is true ; yet there can be little doubt that the 

 excessive application of gross manures is injuri- 

 ous to the quality of the fruit, and enfeebling 

 to the vine, unfitting it, indeed, to withstand 

 the changing rigors of our variable climate. 

 All kinds of marrires are said to be good for 

 the vine, nothing coming amiss. If they are 

 thoroughly decomposed, and have lost their 

 grossness and unhealthful qualities, which 

 produce distended rather than solid growth, 



