168 THE CULTUEi; OF THE GRAPE. 



can be had from the bottom of rivers, ponds, and ditches, 

 and the swecj^ings of the roads and streets ; these are 

 made up in heaps, composed alternately of a layer of 

 these articles and a layer of old dung from the cow or 

 ox, the horse or sheep. This is left to winter in this con- 

 dition; it is then spaded over, on all sides, and this is re- 

 peated often during a year ; after this, it is ready to be 

 applied to the vines. Manures differ in quality, and it 

 cannot be positively said which is best for a place, unless 

 the quality of the earth which is to receive it is known. 

 A manure may be destructive to a vine in one part of a 

 vineyard, and yet be highly invigorating to some other 

 part even of the same vineyard. 



" To improve a soil that is too moist, spread gi-avel 

 upon it ; that from ravines is preferable, because it con- 

 tains a mixture of humus, and shells, and marl, and oth- 

 er calcareous substances. You may also give for manure, 

 ashes, soot, pigeon's dung, and other powerful substan- 

 ces, but it is necessary that these should be for a long 

 time exposed to the air and reduced to poudrette. These 

 should be mixed with good loam, to render tlie eiieot 

 more durable. Where the soil is excessively wet, it will 

 be best to apply manure without any other njixture ; in 

 this case, spread a handful of the substance, as you 

 would sow the seed broadcast on the land. 



" Vegetable matter alone is sufficient to invigorate, for 

 many years, the vine which has been suffering in poor 

 soil near the top of a declivity. Thus, to manure and 

 improve a soil understandingly, you must be acquainted 

 with the effects of the different manures, and of the pro- 



