48 



ON THE MANAGEMENT 



purpose ; and the latter, perhaps, be liable to 

 canker the roots of the Vine ; and therefore, on 

 that account, had better be omitted. These aux- 

 iliaries would, doubtless, be very proper for gar- 

 dens, planted on a sandy soil, and mixed, as we 

 will suppose, with the common soil of the quarters 

 that produce crops of vegetables for culinary use. 

 Stable-yard dung would be too spirituous, hot, and 

 fiery, were it to be introduced into the compost, 

 before its heat was thoroughly abated ; ^and, I fear 

 it would be liable, by its sinking, to cause the 

 border to settle too much after the gravel was laid 

 upon it. 



I am fully persuaded that the Vine is frequently 

 injured by the common custom of putting improper 

 dung into the borders, for dung should not be per- 

 mitted to approach the roots, till it be perfectly 

 reduced to a kind of black mould. 



Lime will, it is said, lend a friendly aid to the 

 Vine ; and, indeed, it is possible that some kinds 

 of lime may possess that useful quality, for lime 

 differs as much in its nature as land does. Lime 

 made of the peak stone is of a rich and mild 

 quality, and is used, with the greatest success, as 

 a top-dressing for grass-lands, and its good effects 

 are very lasting ; indeed, it is asserted, that land 

 will be benefited by a coat of this lime for the 

 space of eighteen or twenty years. This species 

 of lime might, in all probability, be of great ser- 

 vice, if admitted into the Vine-compost; but I 

 am persuaded that there is something too powerful, 



