94 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



When these seedlings are planted out, they should be put 

 into good soil enriched with bone-dust, ashes, and sulphur or 

 plaster. These fertilizers I consider indispensable to the grape. 

 Stable manures induce luxuriant growth of wood, but if applied 

 to vines not carrying crop, give a lax tissue to the vine ; if it is 

 in crop you may safely apply them as top-dressing, to increase 

 the size of the fruit, but many "good cultivators believe it 

 impairs the flavor of the fruit. It is a moot question. 



I do not prune the seedling vine, except to give it shape, but 

 pinch in any branch which may be growing too rampant. 

 These seedlings will not bear until the fifth or sixth year. 



Do not reject too hastily the vine at its first fruiting, for the 

 quality and size of the fruit will steadily improve for many 

 years. The grape vine does not reach its best estate until 

 seven or eight years after planting. 



There are various modes of pruning the grape, all of which 

 have value and adaptation to particular circumstances, as cov- 

 ering a certain space, an ornamental espalier, or the production 

 of large bunches of fruit. And this last is an object of some 

 importance, for, other things being equal, the largest and hand- 

 somest bunches are the most valuable, often bringing in the 

 market double the price which can be obtained for small 

 bunches. 



I shall speak of the renewal, or long cane system, and spur 

 pruning; either of which, judiciously followed, will give good 

 crops and large bunches, always supposing the kind of grape 

 cultivated will give large bunches, for many kinds of grapes, 

 though of fine quality, cannot be made to give large bunches 

 under any kind of pruning. I should mention, also, that some 

 kinds of grape, as the Clinton, Strawberry, and such grapes 

 generally as make long, slender wood, must be laid in long 

 canes upon the espalier to give good crops. 



To begin at the beginning, then, we will suppose the vine just 

 planted and cut down to two eyes ; after these two eyes have 

 grown about a foot, pinch the weakest one at the end and train 

 the strongest one to the pole or espalier. If it run away weakly, 

 pinch it occasionally, which will set back the sap and thicken 

 the stem ; it will probably push out lateral shoots, which should 

 always be pinched at the second leaf; this will prevent the 

 formation of weak, watery shoots, and strengthen the leader. 



