DIVISION OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 683 
downward growth of the roots, which increases their commercial value and enables 
the plant to withstand hot, dry summers, for if the plants are weakened or checked 
in luxuriance they are liable to the attacks of the red spider, which destroys the 
foliage. 
The plants are propagated by the slender side roots, which are removed in trim- 
ming the saleable portions. They are set in the prepared soil by making a perpen- 
dicular hole with a sharp-pointed stick or dibble and inserting the root-slip so that 
it will be covered entirely, exactly as horse-radish sets are planted. 
Frequent hoeing will be necessary during summer, not only to destroy weeds but 
to maintain growth, and the deeper the culture, without hurting the roots, the better 
the plants. 
As winter approaches the tops will become yellow, and after growth is completed 
they can be cleaned off and the plants covered with manure. 
At the end of the third summer’s growth, if ‘the plants have done well, the roots 
will be large enough for market. The process of digging out and harvesting the 
roots is perhaps the most tedious operation connected with the crop. They run 
from 2 to more feet in depth and can only be secured safely by the use of the 
spade, so that the whole root may be secured without breakage. 
The marketable portions are trimmed of all side roots, washed, dried, and tied in 
bundles for sale. 
The labor and cost of manure for thorough preparation of the ground from 2 to 
3 feet in depth, the planting and cultivation for three or four years in producing 
- one crop, and the cost of harvesting the roots leads to the opinion that its profit- 
able culture is doubtful, at least while the price of the article remains as at present. 
PRUNING GRAPES. 
F. M. D., STEUBEN County, N. Y. 
There seems to be quite a diversity of opinions as to the best time to prune the 
grape-vine. Some prune in the fall and others any+time during the winter or 
spring. Many growers think that there is no particular time better than another 
so far as fruit is concerned. If the Department of Agriculture has any rule for 
this operation I would be obliged for information as to the time, and why any par- 
ticular time is preferred. 
Answer.—The best time for the winter pruning of grapes is soon after the fall of 
the leaves, and the sooner the better, for the reason that the buds will push with 
more vigor in spring, will bear better fruit, which will ripen somewhat earlier. 
This arises from the circumstance that the plant during winter continues to absorb 
more or less of nutriment by its roots, which is distributed in the branches or wood. 
If, therefore, pruning is delayed until the approach of spring this winter accumula- 
tion is largely destroyed and lost. When, however, the vine is pruned in the fall 
the winter accumulation of increase will be deposited in the buds and parts left 
after pruning, and such buds will start vigorously and, in consequence of their 
better development, the fruit they show will be increased, and the shoots will ad- 
vance rapidly in growth and attain maturity sooner than those from weaker buds, 
as may be tested by comparative trials and close observation of results. 
This becomes a matter of considerable importance in localities where the growing 
season is barely of sufficient length to ripen the fruit. 
TONKA BEAN. 
N. B. G., ORANGE, CouNTY, FLA. 
Among other tropical plants which I am trying to grow I would like to raise the 
Tonka bean plant, and would be greatly obliged for some plants or seeds of it for 
trial, also some information as to the particular value and use of the bean. 
I hear of a wild vanilla said to be growing in some parts of this State; would like 
to know something about it and where seeds or plants can be secured. 
Answer.—The Tonka bean is the seed of a tropical tree of Guiana, called Dip- 
terix odorata, which reaches to a height of 60 or 80 feet. The béan has a strong 
odor, somewhat resembling that of cloves, and is due toa principle called couma- 
rine, a fragrant principle found in the dried leaves of the vernal grass, Anthoxan- 
thum odoratum, and in the leaves of the yellow melilot, Melilotus officinalis. The 
Tonka bean has been used to scent snuff, hence it is called the snuff bean. It is 
sometimes employed to adulterate vanilla. It imparts to true vanilla a sharp, rank 
