FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 403 



Some cut off the branches, to be used for cutings, in Oc- 

 tober; and others again, in March or April. If at the latter 

 times, they are to be planted in April or May ; and the next 

 Winter they must be secured from the frost by coarse litter 

 piled up round them ; which, in the Spring following, may 

 be strewed over the ground for manure. It the cutings be 

 planted in the Fall, they are be in the same manner pre- 

 served from the Winter-frost: One method is also to set 

 them out closely in the Fall, in some warm dry spot, in a 

 trench about a foot wide, which should be well prepared by 

 diging, and over them erect a roof made of straw, well se- 

 cured, to keep of the frost, and the heads of the branches to 

 be kept in an upright position, by poles or laths surrounding 

 them lor that purpose, in order to prevent their lying on 

 the ground, and thus becoming mouldy. 



In planting the cutings in the vineyard, after the ground 

 has been well prepared, as before directed, let the thick 

 ends be cut off square with a sharp kmte, and the upper 

 ends obliquely, about half an inch above the eye. Plant 

 them at the distance of about eight or ten feet each way, 

 and let the earth be pressed round them with the foot. 

 They are to be set in an inclined position, leaving the up- 

 per bud or eye nearly as low as the surface of the soil, and 

 be careful not to injure the eye in treading the earth about 

 it. In the Spring, while nightly frost prevails, let this bud, 

 or eye, be slightly covered with earth in the evening, to 

 save it from the frost, and again uncovered in the morning. 



Remember to drive in the stake, on which the shoot is to 

 be trained, at the north side, so as to give the shoot all the 

 warmth of the sun. When the shoots begin to put forth, 

 for some will rise from under ground, let them all grow for 

 a certain time, in order that you may have an opportunity 

 of determining which is likely to be the best; and these are 

 the roundest, shortest-jointed, and the most thick-set with 

 eyes. Those which grow long and spindly, with few eyes, 

 are not good. When you have thus selected the best, pinch 

 off all the resi ; tor all the nourishment which the roots can 

 afford is requisite for its growth. As it advances in growth, 

 fasten it to the sunny side of the stake, so that it be not 

 beaten about with the winds, and pinch off its tendrils, lat- 

 erals, nephews, and suckers ; not closely, however, but at 

 some little distance from the body of the main shoot. 



This shoot may rise to the height of eight or ten feet in 

 a Summer, if left to grow its full length ; but its growth 

 must be checked at the height of not more than four feet; 

 otherwise its strength becomes exhausted in the production 

 of waste wood, and the head becomes feeble, and incapable 

 of bearing the lateral branches, which it is destined to 

 support. 



