168 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



late Crawfords, knowing at the time (what the purchaser to 

 his sorrow learned, after waiting three or four years), that 

 with the exception of two or three, all were worthless seed- 

 lings. Men have been imprisoned for lesser crimes. If I am 

 severe, it is because I have suffered, but not from any member 

 of this society, and none need take offense. Millers, you know, 

 are proverbially dishonest, but there are exceptions to all rules, 

 and I claim to be an exception. Friend Husted, and all other 

 honest propagators can do the same. 



PLANTING. 



Having obtained good vines in perfect order, the next step 

 is to plant them in a proper manner. We will first plant one, 

 having in view a single tier of arms, with vines eight feet 

 apart in the row. As the planting and pruning of this will, 

 with some slight modifications, be a guide for the rest, we 

 will, for reference, call it No. 1. Supposing the border to 

 have been filled up level with the surrounding surface, dig a 

 hole four feet from the end, eight or ten inches deep, and 

 about eighteen inches in width, leaving the bottom convex, or 

 about two inches highest at the center ; the earth taken out 

 should be left convenient for filling up the cavity in the fall. 

 As we propose getting grapes in two years, we shall have to 

 trench the border and plant the vines this spring, and as the 

 subsoil will not have become fertilized, it will be necessary to 

 use a peck or so of rich surface soil to each plant. Spread 

 half of it over the bottom of the hole, set a stake five feet 

 long an inch or so back of the centre, take out one vine, and 

 no matter how long the roots are, cut them back with a sharp 

 knife to six or eight inches, and the stem to two buds, place it 

 in front of the stake, spread the roots out evenly in every 

 direction, and cover them with surface soil. This should be 

 done quick as possible, for one minute's exposure of tender 

 roots is a drawback to the vine of a week or month. Enough 

 of the soil first taken out should now be put in to level up the 

 hole two inches above the crown of the roots, and moderately 



