48 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



But where the soil, with fat'ning moisture fill'd, 

 Is clotlied with grass, and fruitful to be tiU'd; 

 Such as in cheerful vales we^view from liigh, 

 "Which dripping rocks with rolling streams supply, 

 And feed with ouze ; where rising hillocks run 

 In lengtli, and open to the southern sun ; 

 "Where fern succeeds, ungrateful to the plough. 

 That gentle ground to generous grapes allow.' 



" As the vegetable mould from decayed leaves cannot 

 always be obtained, by reason that the leaves require to 

 lie two years before they become sufficiently putrid and 

 reduced, it may be necessar}' to substitute some other in- 

 gredient in lieu of this part of the compost. Eotten 

 wood reduced to a fine mould : the scrapings of the 

 ground in old woods, where the trees grow thick toge- 

 ther ; mould out of hollow trees, and sawdust reduced 

 to a fine mould, provided it be not from wood of a resin- 

 ous kind, are, in part, of a similar nature with vegetable 

 mould from decayed leaves, but are neither so rich nor 

 powerful. It is very probable that there are various 

 other kinds of manure, that may be introduced into a 

 compost suitable for the vine with as much effect as the 

 former; as blood, the offal of animals or shambles, horn 

 shavings, old rags, hair, shavings of leather, and bone 

 dust. This last is exceedingly proper, as, at the same 

 time that it gives a lightness to the soil, it contributes to 

 its fertility. I may also add to the former the dung of 

 deer and sheep, as, likewise, (poudrette) night soil. But 

 please to observe, that many, if not all, of the above re 

 cited manures will require time to meliorate, before they 

 can be introduced and incorporated with the other part 

 of the compost. The dust, or dirt, from roads consists 



