THE CANADIAN nORTICDLTDRIST. 



they come into bearing than the most 

 of our fiuit trees ; that instead of wait- 

 ing tive, six, eight or ten years for fruit, 

 they are sure of gathering a nice supply 

 the third season. Nor have they been 

 slow to find out that the product of a 

 few vines was not only a beautiful and 

 toothsome addition to one's home com- 

 forts, but a [)rofitable source of money 

 revenue. It was soon found that an 

 acre of grapes would yield five tons of 

 fruit, which, if sold at the moderate 

 price of four cents per pound, brought 

 to the producer the comfortable item 

 of four hundred dollars, which left him, 

 after making liberal allowance for labor 

 and capital invested, a better income 

 than any, even the most favorable, yield 

 of grain. Hence it is that to-day the 

 planting of grapes has reached such 

 vast proportions, and that new kinds, 

 which promise to be well adapted to 

 our climate and to take in the market, 

 are so eagerly sought after. Hence, 

 also, it is that inquiry as to the methods 

 of pruning, training and caring for the 

 grape is so active, and everything 

 throwing light upon the subject so 

 eagerly sought. 



To help those who are thus seeking 

 information upon a matter so important 

 and interesting these hints on grape 

 growing are given, believing that, in 

 as much as they embody an experience 

 extending now over many years, they 

 will be found helpful to those especially 

 who are but beginners, those who are 

 just trying their prentice hand at the 

 mystery of grape growing, nor will they 

 find the lesson at all hard to learn. 

 The grape-vine is a very patient plant, 

 yielding generously her luscious fruits 

 under even very crude treatment. But, 

 as in everything else, he will reap the 

 finest fruit an*! the most money who 

 gives his mind to the business, attends 

 CJirefully to every detail, and never 

 allows any item of the work to suflfer 

 through neglect. There may be "no 



royal road to learning," but there is a 

 royal road to success in grape growing, 

 and none may travel it but those who 

 have royal blood in their veins ; those 

 who, though they claim not descent 

 from regal sires, are nature's noblemen ; 

 men of earnest purpose, who, with head 

 and heart devoted to the culture, will 

 watchfully supply every want and guard 

 against every foe. To such there will 

 be truly golden harvests. 



THE SOIL, AND PREPARATION FOR 

 PLANTING. 



One of the first questions that arises 

 in the mind of the intending vine 

 planter is whether the soil at his com- 

 mand is suitable, and' what the prepara- 

 tion it requires. Fortunately the vine 

 is not very fastidious in its choice of 

 soils. I have planted it on gravelly, 

 sandy and clay soils, and find it to 

 thrive vigorously, and to bear profusely 

 on them all. One thing it requires, and 

 if this be given it, there is hardly any 

 soil in which it will not yield generous 

 returns ; but that one thing is essential 

 to healthy and permanent growth. 

 That thing is this : the soil must not 

 be wet. If the drainage be not such 

 that the soil is dry at all tim(?s, that 

 the water does not stand in it at any 

 season of the year, it must first be made 

 dry by thorough underdraining. When 

 this is attained, the character of the soil 

 in other respects seems to be of little 

 moment. 



We may take it for granted that the 

 vine will flourish on soil suit;ible for an 

 apple-orchard; and may proceed to plant 

 on such soil with every expectation of 

 success. 



Nor does the soil need such long and 

 expensive preparation as many writers 

 would have us to believe. Soil that 

 has been de^ly and thoroughly tilled ; 

 soil that has been tilled as it ought to 

 be to yield a good crop of Indian com, 

 will be in a suitable condition for the 



