SOILS AND MANURES FOR GRAPES. 



59 



of water, and stand in a tank for at least a week before it is 

 used, and be filtered through sand, burned clay, or charcoal. 

 During the week a process of decomposition will take place, 

 the result being that the liquid will contain ammonia, phos- 

 phates, and potash in proportions that may vary with the food 

 the cattle are fed on, that from the stables being by far the 

 richest in ammonia. 



I cannot too strongly condemn the practice of placing large 

 quantities of rank dung on Vine-borders where the Vines are 

 to be forced early, either for the purpose of enriching the border 

 or warming it. It most effectually sours the border, and does 

 much harm in a manner which time will not allow me to 

 explain. 



Where Vines are to be forced early, and the roots are in an 

 outside border, I advise that dry leaves be first laid on the surface 

 of the border and then thatched with reeds or straw. This 

 retains the heat the border got from the autumn sun, and does 

 the soil no harm. 



During hot, dry weather, and where the soil of the Vine- 

 border is on the side of being light, I advise that a couple of 

 inches in depth of well-prepared farmyard manure be laid on 

 the surface of the soil. It will prevent the over-rapid evapora- 

 tion of moisture, while it will not prevent the beneficial action 

 of the air on the soil. 



I have now dealt with the subjects you have assigned to me, 

 as fully as the portion of your time I feel warranted in occupy- 

 ing will admit. 



I have endeavoured to avoid all technical and purely 

 scientific terms as far as possible, believing that the primary 

 object of such papers is to popularise the subjects of which 

 they treat. 



PACKING GKAPES. 



By Mr. W. Coleman, F.B.H.S. 



The packing of Grapes for transit by rail, often to a considerable 

 distance, is a matter which requires a greater amount of atten- 

 tion than is frequently given to it. Many cultivators produce 



