QRAPE. 81 



mends preparing the ground by ploughing with two ploughs 

 with strong teams, one immediately behind the other, in the 

 same furrow, each of them set deep; and after the plough- 

 ing is completed, to be harrowed thoroughly. Then in the 

 direction the rows are intended to be planted, parallel fur- 

 rows are run across the field, at the distance of eight feet 

 from each other ; these are afterward crossed at right an 

 gles, five feet asunder. In the opening, at the intersection 

 of these furrows, cuttings from nine to twelve inches long 

 are planted, and arranged with a view to the vines being, 

 when grown, at distances of four by seven feet from each 

 other ; to this end, he frequently plants two cuttings in a 

 place, some of which are used to fill up with, in case of 

 failures. He says, that in 1829 he planted in nursery beds 

 from two to three thousand cuttings as late as the middle of 

 April to the middle of May, with better success than at any 

 previous time. " In this case the slips should be kept in a 

 cool, damp place, where vegetation may be held in check. 

 To insure their freshness, sprinkle them occasionally with 

 water. Previous to planting cut them a proper length, and 

 place them with their lower ends three or four inches in 

 water, in a tub above ground, where they may soak three or 

 four days. At this season the temperature will be likely to 

 be such as to spur vegetation at once into healthy and 

 vigorous action. The autumn, or early in the spring, is 

 preferable for rooted plants. In the autumn of the first 

 year, after the frost has killed the unripe part of the young 

 shoots, they should be pruned down to the mature, firm 

 wood, and then with a hoe hilled over with the surrounding 

 soil, which will completely protect them through the winter. 

 If left without protection the first winter, many of them will 

 perish." 



Mr. Bonsall says, his mode of training, as far as he is 

 aware of it, is entirely peculiar to himself, which he describes 

 as follows : " I take chestnut posts, the thickness of large 

 fence rails, seven feet in length; these I plant along the 



