264 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



side,' precisely those which the light gaseous products of 

 the rotten carrion, used in neighboring borders, though not 

 in their own, would be most likely to affect. Mr. Eoberts, 

 however, is not inclined to refer the bad condition of his 

 vines to any such cause ; but he hints at the glass being 

 possibly in fault. He also refers to Mr. If ash's admirable 

 vine borders at Bishop's Stortford, which ' are stated to 

 be gorged with manure, and fleshings of tanners and 

 skinners,' and compares them, as we understand him, 

 with his own. But, in truth, there is no analogy. Not 

 a particle of carrion was employed there. Such animal 

 matters as skin, hair, and trimmings of hides, decompose 

 very slowly, and are not carrion any more than bones 

 are. It is the animal matter which rapidly becomes pu- 

 trid, and passes off in clouds of poisonous gas, that ren- 

 ders carrion, properly so called, objectionable. 



" The vine-dressers of France object to manure alto- 

 gether. Virgil, to be sure, recommends it in some lines, 

 which should be committed to memoiy by every young 

 gardener : — 



Next: when you layers in your vineyard make, 

 Mix some rich dung, and shells and pebbles break, 

 Spread the good soil whh lib'ral hand around, 

 And trench them deeply in the lightened ground ; 

 Superfluous moisture thus ghdes tlirough the earth, 

 And healthy vapors aid the tender birth. 



" 'No doubt, these are wise maxims. No modern dis- 

 covery is at variance with them ; on the contrary, they 

 are confirmed by the experience of the most intelligent 

 cultivators. The whole aim of the poet is to inculcate 

 <he necessity of keeping the soil loose. Dung may be 



