THE CULTURE OF THE uBAPE. 51 



can be taken. Every weed, every blade of grass that 

 arises, is saved with as much care as the grapes, and giv- 

 en to the cows. Dang is, however, sometimes laid on in 

 March, but it is not thought so proper for that work as 

 autumn. Over-manuring is thought prejudicial. But 

 this depends on the soil ; for some lands are so deficient in 

 natural fertility, that, unless they are manured more than 

 commonly, they will not yield a crop ; they lay a thou- 

 sand baskets, and sometimes even twelve hundred on 

 such." 



Speechly says that the vine requires " a plentiful sup- 

 ply of water during summer, particularly in a hot, dry 

 season. 



" ' It was planted in a good soil by great waters, that 

 it might bring forth branches, and that it might bear 

 fruit, that it might be a goodly vine.' — Eseldel, xvii. 8. 



" In hot countries, the vine is said to grow the most 

 luxuriant in a situation which is near the water, but it is 

 generally allowed, that the flavor of the grape from vines 

 in such a situation is much inferior to that of grapes 

 growing in a dry soil. 



" During winter, I have frequently watered the vine 

 border with a thick, black liquor, the drainage of the 

 dunghills ; and, though this practice was intended solely 

 to enrich the soil, yet it is not improbable but this power- 

 ful liquor, by being impregnated with saline particles, 

 may communicate a warmth to the roots of the vine du- 

 ring the winter, and thereby prove serviceable in that re- 

 spect also. However that may be, from the uncommon 

 vigor of the vines, I have been led into a belief of the 

 utility of this practice. But let me at the same time ob- 



