18 CXJLTIVA.TION 



soil around ifc, and requires manure. But it must 

 be given with much prudence and not in excess. 

 Liquid manures are to be prefered, and stable 

 manure mostly avoided. Leaves of all sorts, (its 

 own leaves the best,) and peat, or swamp earth, are 

 desirable. Bones and animal manure from slaughter 

 houses are much used, as also lime and gypsum* 

 Soap-suds, soot, poudrette, guano, ashes of all kinds, 

 street and road manure, all are good for the grape, 

 and every family makes enough for several vines. 

 Fish and sea-weed are much used in France, but 

 the latter is said to give a peculiar taste to the 

 wine. New earth must be applied where the vines 

 are on a side hill, to replace that which washes 

 away. If the vines become yellow, it is an indica- 

 tion of weakness in the root, and that manure is 

 required. It is best applied in the fall, or early in 



springs" 



Bespecting the distance at which vines should be 

 planted, cultivators differ in opinions and practice. 

 Mr. Buchanan, an intelligent and extensive vine- 

 grower in Ohio, remarks that, «'our native varieties 

 with their long joints, large foliage, and luxuriant 

 growth, require more room to grow than the short- 

 jointed vines of the Rhine. Hence, our German vine- 

 dressers have sometimes erred in planting too close 

 in this country, as three and a half feet by four, 

 four by four, &c. For steep hill sides, three feet by 

 five may answer, but for level land, four by seven 

 is better; this will admit the sun and air to mature 

 the fruit, and leave a liberal space for the roots to 



