2 he Currant Sorer. 183 



Deep and Shallow Culture of the Grape. 



4 VINE grower, of Pleasant Valley, N. Y., a locality famous for its fine vineyards, 

 ■^ after some years experience, comes to the conclusion that shallow culture in the 

 vineyard is followed by decidedly the best result. He says : 



"We cultivate shallow, giving the roots the entire and undisturbed possession of 

 the soil. By this practice, by the time the vine arrives at a proper age for fruiting, 

 we have a root upon which we can rely for the perfect maturity of both vine and 

 fruit, and in its proper season. Would it seem a fair inference to suppose that when 

 the surface soil is filled with a net work of fine lateral roots that they would sooner 

 be warmed into active life and give more strength and vigor to vine, than when by 

 deep cultivation nothing remains but coarse tap-roots reaching down deep into the 

 cold soil. 



" It is my observation that our old vineyards that have been subjected to the yearly 

 infliction of deep plowing are necessarily growing later in their period of ripening 

 their fruit, year by year, for the reason that the growth in the spring is late and feeble, 

 the leaf is weak and not sufiiciently matured in season to ward off adverse influences ; 

 therefore, they become an easy victim to mildew, leaf blight, etc. My practice is to 

 cultivate often until the last days of July, when all cultivation is closed for the bal- 

 ance of the season. The depth in the early part of the season does not exceed two 

 inches, gradually working less deep as the season advances, when, by the month of 

 July it will not exceed one inch, hoeing twice during the season under the trellis, all 

 done with the utmost care, so as to avoid breaking or wounding any of the roots, as 

 it is upon them I rely for the maturity of the vine and fruit. I would here say, that 

 by this treatment I can ripen the Isabella and Catawba grapes with as much certainty 

 as corn." 



Dwarf Apple Trees. — A correspondent of the Mame Farmer, highly recom- 

 mends the growing of dwarf apple trees. He says, in order to bear well, the trees 

 should have rich culture, as the roots are short and do not range ofi" for substance 

 like standard. Claims that his dwarfs have paid for all cost and trouble several 

 times over — would not sell one tree for what a dozen cost. 



Per contra, another correspondent of the same paper writes: "I have had some 

 experience with dwarf apple trees, but would not recommend them unless a person 

 has not sufficient ground room for setting out standards. In my experience I find 

 that one thrifty standard tree will yield as much fruit as half a dozen dwarf trees.' 



The Currant Borer. — The Pacific Rural Press announces the appearance of 



the currant borer in some parts of California — and what adds to the calamity 



blight and a scaly insect. " Bushes that have hitherto produced fine crops of fruit, 

 are found to be stricken with what appears to be a kind of blight accompanied by 

 the presence of a scale insect or parasite in countless numbers. Bushes thus affected 

 are seen to be budless, and looking like dried sticks, standing in the midst of 

 younger shoots that seem to be butjittle aff"ected. 



