MANUEES. 



169 



were dressed with normal (complete) manure 

 developed as large as a man's hand." 



In the plot of land without potash, as early 

 as the beginning of the month of June, the Vine 

 leaves turn red and then black, drying up and 

 shrivelling like those of Pota- 

 toes which have received the 

 same treatment. 



When M. Ville tried a manure 

 which contained potash and all 

 other necessary elements, with 

 the exception of nitrogen, he 

 obtained a yield of grapes weigh- 

 ing 2 tons 10 cwts. per acre. 



In the case of a manure which 

 contained nitrogen, potash, &c, 

 but from which phosphate was 

 absent, the following result was 

 obtained, viz. 2 tons 18 cwts. of 

 grapes per acre. 



These experiments showed con- 

 clusively that potash was the 

 most essential element of plant- 

 food for Vines, nitrogen standing 

 second in importance, and phos- 

 phate third. 



When lime only was omitted 

 from the manure, the yield of 

 grapes obtained was 3 tons 2 

 cwts. per acre. Lime, therefore, 

 stands lowest in importance in 

 considering the needs of Vine 

 requirements; but where a com- 

 plete manure was applied to the 

 Vines, a marked difference dis- 

 covered itself, as shown in fig. 

 171, the yield per acre in this 

 case being 4 tons 15 cwts. 



Influence of Potash on 

 Vegetable Physiology. 



The data thus given show that the stems and 

 leaves of the Vine require the most dry sub- 

 stance, carbon and mineral matters, to build 

 their fabric. Further, these organs contain the 

 most nitrogen, showing that the fruit has utilized 



According to the analysis of 

 the Grape Vine, it is found that 

 the following quantities of chemical ingredients 

 are required by one ton weight of fresh fruit, 

 one ton of leaves, and one ton of stems. 



Selected Constituents in One Ton each of Fresh Grapes, Vine- 

 leaves, and Vine-stems. 



Fig. 171.— Vines grown with Manure containing all necessary Plant-food, including Potash. 





In the 



In the 



In the 





Fruit. 



Leaves. 



Stems. 





lbs. 



lbs. 



lbs. 



Dry substances, 



363 



829 



981 



Mineral matter (ash), 



17 



93 



40 



Nitrogen. 



2 



11 



4i 



Potash, 



Phosphoric Acid, 



§ 



6 

 1 



4 

 1* 



Sugar, 



205 



40 



9 



its nitrogen and carbon for the production of the 

 carbohydrate, sugar. Dr. A. B. Griffiths says: 

 " It is advisable during the ripening of the fruit 

 that a large number of leaf -bearing shoots should 

 be sacrificed. These leaves require a large quan- 

 tity of sugar for their development, and for the 

 support of their respiration, and thus rob the 

 fruit of that constituent." 



A good special manure recommended for Vines 

 contains 7 parts by weight of superphosphate, 

 6 parts of kainit, 2 parts of sulphate of mag- 

 nesia (Epsom salts), and 3 parts of nitrate of soda. 



