110 VITIS LABIU'.sCA. 



be no hard frost.) aiul tlio surface of the grouiul must be made quite mellow by 

 nsiim lightly a uardcii fork or trowel, obscrviui; irrrat care to avoid distiir1)ing 

 the roots, as they will now be found very near the surfac(\ Let the sub.stvincnl 

 treatment throuL'liont tbc season be precisely the same as in the preceding sum- 

 mer, if any fruit be shown, i)incli it ofl' as soon as it appears. 

 NovrnibtM- 1st. It is presumed the stem of the vine will now be 

 more than two inclies in girth, and therefore two leading shoots are 

 to be permanently retained the next year. For this purpo.se, cut 

 the vine down now to the three lowermost buds, thus reserving 

 one to sjian\ in case of accident. The vine will then resemble the 

 adjoining Jigure. The roots being now sufliciently strong to withstand the 

 severity of the weather, will not in future require covering. 



FOURTH YEAR. 



March 1st. Clean the surface of the gromid, and fork it np lightly, and let tne 

 subsequent management throughout the season be the same as before. May 1st. 

 As soon as the shoots have grown a sufficient length, nail or tie them carefidly 

 to the wall or trellis, and rub olf all the others, if any should have pushed. If 

 fruit be shown, pinch it off as in the preceding year. July 1st. Unnail and cut 

 out the weakest of the three shoots, and train the two remaining ones carefully 

 during the remainder of the season. September 1st. Pinch off the tops of 

 the shoots. November 1st. As the girth of the stem will not be less now 

 than three inches, the vine may be permitted to mature fruit the next year, 

 not exceeding five pounds weight ; for this purpose, cut down the two shoots to 

 the seven lowermost buds each. Prune away the remaining portion of the ten- 

 drils and dead wood close to the shoots; and cut out carefully all the lateral 

 shoots close to the base of the buds, whence they have sprung. If the outer 

 bark of the stem be decayed, rub it off clean ; and then nail or tie the shoots to 

 the wall or trellis in a temporary manner. 



FIFTH YEAR. / 



February 1st. As soon after this time as the weather is open, cut out of each 

 shoot the first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth buds ; then bend the two shoots 

 carefully down, and secure them in a horizontal position, similar to that repre- 

 sented by the shoots in the adjohiing , ; ; 

 figure. March 1st. Clean the sur- j 1 l 

 face of the ground, and fork it up as i i | I 

 in the preceding year. May 1st. 

 Train the shoots that push from the 

 buds 3 and 7, in the manner repre- 

 sented by the dotted lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 

 and if more fruit shows than is equiv- 

 alent to the weight before mentioned,' 

 the excess must be cut off" when the 

 berries are set. July 1.5th. Continue 

 the same course of management as in 

 the preceding year, and when the roots require watering, they are now .suffi- 

 ciently strong to have applied to them for that purpose any description of liquid 

 manure that can be most conveniently obtained. September 1 st. Pinch off the 

 tops of the shoots, and the sap will then accumulate in the buds." Here we 

 will leave our author, and pursue a somewhat diff"erent treatment. Early in 

 October, or soon after the fruit is gathered, let the shoots numbered 1 and 4, be 



