404 FARMER'S ASSISTANT. 



October, or rather when the leaf begins to fall off, is the 

 time for triming; and then the branch should be cut down 

 to two good eyes, not reckoning the lowermost next the old 

 wood, which is called the dead eye ; or several eyes may 

 be left, which, during the next Spring, will furnish a num- 

 ber of sprouts, and from these select the two best. 



The vine being thus pruned, some direct to open the 

 ground round the roots, to the depth of three or four inches, 

 and to cut away the roots to that depth ; not closely, how- 

 ever; and let this be repeated for the first three years; the 

 use of which is to make the vine take deeper root, which it 

 is said makes them more durable, fruitful, and less liable to 

 be injured by droughts. 



No particular notice is here taken of the method spoken 

 of by Mr. Johnson, of bending the vines down to the ground 

 at the approach of each Winter, during the first three Win- 

 ters, and covering them slightly with earth, to protect them 

 from frost ; because it is not believed that this process is 

 requisite. It it be found so, the head must not be covered 

 with eurth, but with chaff, or some such dry stuff, to keep 

 it cool and dry. 



The S' rond year's growth should only exhibit two branch- 

 es trained. The good eyes will all shoot forth in the Springy 

 and let them all grow to the length of about eight inches, 

 btfore you select the two most proper. These should have 

 the characteristics already described, as necessary for the 

 be^t branch of the first year's growth. Check the branches 

 of i he second year's growth at about five feet, pinching off 

 the laterals, &c. at about four inches, as before directed. 

 In the Full, when the leaves begin to drop, trim the vines, 

 again, as before. Now you have two main branches to trim, 

 and these should be cut down to within four or five good 

 eyes of last year's wood, dealing with the upper roots as 

 before, and burying the vines during Winter, as before 

 mentioned, if this be found necessary. 



The third year presents two main branches, each fur- 

 nished with four or five eyes. Proceed as before in the 

 choice of shoots to be reserved, training only two from each 

 branch : Thus you will have four main branches this year. 

 If you find your vines begin to bear this year, pluck off 

 nearly all the clusters while young; for, by too early bear- 

 ing, the vines become debilitated, and materially injured for 

 bearing afterwards. 



With respect to croping and pruning the vine, be always 

 careful to check its aspiring nature, and keep it of humble 

 size, by which means it is always easy to be managed by 

 manual labor, and less subject to be injured by the violence 

 of winds. 



