52 THE GRAPE. : 
and yuickly putrefying — of the animal body, with 
out any reference to the bones. Heie we will subscribe 
to the recommendation, as it is consistent with na- 
ture, and furnishes along with other useful properties, the 
often most wanting requirement, lime; in this all grape 
growers are agreed, and the invariable prosperity of our 
pet, in places where limestone abounds among the soil. 
produces the most conclusive evidence. There is little 
donbt but the want of this substance is the reason why 
some of our vigaerons have occasion to complain of rot 
and want of success in various ways; and here we may 
ask, whoever saw a grape vine that did not do well, and 
produce fruit of good quality, providing the climate was 
suitable, and the reots could creep along under the soit 
and le upon the surface or in the fissures of a lonssione 
There are other persons who make the beds from three 
to four feet deep of suitable materials, bet use such quan- 
the whole bulk, after a time, becomes sodden 
vious to either sun or air, in which no reot can exist, much 
less extend itself. These are some of the many causes 
_ why our giaperies so soon become weak and unproduc- 
tive; yet the natural constitutional powers of the grape 
vine are very strong, and of great longevity ; it is a gross 
feeder and can absorb a large amount of food, but when 
thus maltreated, although it may bear such usage ter a 
_ time with much pertinacity, it will in the long ran (Fke av 
- overgorged glutton) become deranged, its physical fine 
: tious will be weakened, and it either dies of plethora, o1 
wears on an exhausted existence, producing little or eas: 
