56 'i:HE CULTUHK OF THE GRAPE. 



is planting without a particle of soil. I have never at- 

 tempted to grow vines after this plan, and most surely 

 shall not ; still, it is to be presumed, occasionally, a plant 

 may succeed. Where the soil is very wet, the plan, 

 %oith the addition of one half of good loam to the com- 

 post, doubtless would do well. In the damp climate of 

 England, this compost would probably retain sufficient 

 moisture, and never become dry, as Mr. Hoare says ; 

 but, in the severe droughts of the United States, in most 

 situations, the plants would die. 



In preparing a suitable soil for fruit trees in general, 

 De la Quintiney says : " The best earth for this use is a 

 sort of rich sandy loam, which may be taken from near 

 the surface of some rich pasture ground, where cattle 

 have been fed or fothered, or of some rich sheep-walk, 

 where there is a depth of earth, and if it is mixed with 

 a little old mellow earth, or the like, it may do well ; or 

 cow or horse dung may likewise do well, if it is quite 

 rotten, so as to be like earth ; but of this a small quanti- 

 ty, as one part in four or five, and thoroughly rotted." 

 p. 9. 



New earths he also recommends as suitable for trees, 

 &c. ; these he defines as being " such as have never 

 served for the nourishment of any plant, or else have 

 been a long time built upon, &c. ; likewise, earth from 

 some rich pasture-ground, of a sandy, loamy nature, 

 where cattle have been a long time fed, is of excellent 

 use for most sorts of plants ; especially if it has been 

 thrown up in heaps to meliorate, and has taken the win- 

 ter frosts, it will be so much the better." p. 17. 



" Now since the grcpt defects of earth are too much 



