THE CAJJADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



planting of grape vines. The deep 

 trenching and heavy manuring advised 

 by some writers I believe to be not 

 only unnecessary, but positively injuri- 

 ous. It causes an undue and unnatural 

 growth of wood ; it causes the texture 

 of the wood to be less firm, and the 

 vine becomes less able to resist extremes 

 of temperature. 



I conclude, therefore, that any soil 

 that is well drained and in suitable tilth 

 to produce a good crop of Indian corn, 

 is suitable for the vine. 



PLANTING THE VINE, 

 After considerable experiment and 

 much personal observation, I have been 

 fully convinced that we ought to give 

 more space to our vines than has been 

 usually given. Not less than twelve 

 feet apart each way is required for the 

 best development and most economical 

 and profitable culture. Parties in- 

 terested in the sale of vines may urge 

 closer planting ; but experience and 

 ^)und reason, based upon a knowledge 

 of our climate and of the habits of the 

 vine, conspire to indicate this distance 

 as the best for us to adopt, especially if 

 planting a vineyard. If planting but 

 a few viues in the garden, where space 

 is limited, they may be set as close as 

 eight by ten feet. 



Of the manner of planting, it can 

 surely not be needful to write. Any 

 one that has set out a tree or a cabbage 

 plant, knows enough to set out a grape 

 vine. It is a living plant, not a post, 

 and should be treated accordingly. The 

 hole should be made large enough to 

 allow of the roots being all spread out 

 in their natural position, and then care- 

 fully covered with finely pulverized soil. 

 Nor is the season of much importance. 

 At any time after the leaves fall in 

 autumn, and before the buds burst in 

 spring, and the soil is in condition to 

 be worked, the vine may be planted 

 >with success. TJae measure of success 



will depend much on the care and 

 judgment of the planter. A covering 

 of coarse litter upon the ground over 

 the roots, usually called by gardeners a 

 mulch, will well repay the trouble of 

 putting on. 



Plant them in fall or spring, as may 

 be most convenient; plant carefully, 

 and mulch after planting. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING. 



First Year. 

 When the young vines in a new- 

 plantation begin to grow, all the shoots 

 but one — usually all but the one near- 

 est the ground — should be rubbed off. 

 If, however, the one from nearest the 

 ground seems to be very feeble, or from 

 any other cause unsuitable, then the 

 shoot next higher 

 on the cane should 

 be preserved and all 

 the others rubbed 

 ofi". A small stake 

 —a strip of lath will 

 answer — should be 

 thrust into the 

 ground at each 

 plant, and the vine 

 carefully tied to 

 that, as it grows 

 during the summer. 

 None but slovenly 

 cultivators will 

 allow the weeds to 

 grow and choke the 

 young vines ; and 

 such persons should 

 never plant them. 

 This will be all the 

 care that the vines 

 will need during 

 the first season. 



At the end of 

 the first season's 

 growth the young 

 vine will have the 

 appearance shewn 

 vmK o^^nE^R TRANS- m Figurs No. 1. 



FLANTBD. 



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