140 
VITIS LABRUSCA. 
be no hard frost.) and the surface of the ground must he made quite mellow by 
using lightly a garden fork or trowel, observing great care to avoid disturbing 
the roots, as they will now be found very near the surface. Let the subsequent 
treatment throughout the season be precisely the same as in the preceding sum- 
mer. If any fruit be shown, pinch it off as soon as it appears. 
November 1st. It is presumed the stem of the vine will now be 
more than two inches in girth, and therefore two leading shoots are 
to be permanently retained the next year. For this purpose, cut 
the vine down now to the three lowermost buds, thus reserving 
one to spare, in case of accident. The vine will then resemble the -aa==gJ _. 
adjoining figure. The roots being now sufficiently strong to withstand the 
severity of the weather, will not in future require covering. 
FOURTH YEAR. 
March 1st. Clean the surface of the ground, and fork it up lightly, and let tne 
subsequent management throughout the season be the same as before. May 1st. 
As soon as the shoots have grown a sufficient length, nail or tie them carefully 
to the wall or trellis, and rub off all the others, if any should have pushed. If 
fruit be shown, pinch it off as in the preceding year. July 1st. Unnail and cut 
out the weakest of the three shoots, and train the two remaining ones carefully 
during the remainder of the season. September 1st. Pinch off the tops of 
the shoots. November 1st. As the girth of the stem will not be less now 
than three inches, the vine may be permitted to mature fruit the next year, 
not exceeding five pounds weight ; for this purpose, cut down the two shoots to 
the seven lowermost buds each. Prune away the remaining portion of the ten- 
drils and dead wood close to the shoots ; and cut out carefully all the lateral 
shoots close to the base of the buds, whence they have sprung. If the outer 
bark of the stem be decayed, rub it off clean ; and then nail or tie the shoots to 
the wall or trellis in a temporary manner. 
FIFTH YEAR. 
February 1 st. As soon after this time as the weather is open, cut out of each 
shoot the first, second, fourth, fifth, and sixth buds ; then bend the two shoots 
carefully down, and secure them in a horizontal position, similar to that repre-. 
sented by the shoots in the adjoining 
figure. March 1st. Clean the sur- 
face of the ground, and fork it up as 
in the preceding year. May 1st. 
Train the shoots that push from the 
buds 3 and 7, in the manner repre- 
sented by the dotted lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 
and if more fruit shows than is equiv- 
alent to the weight before mentioned, 7 "^ 5 4 3 
the excess must be cut off when the 
berries are set. July 15th. Continue 
the same course of management as in 
the preceding year, and when the roots require watering, they are now suffi- 
ciently strong to have applied to them for that purpose any description of liquid 
manure that can be most conveniently obtained. September 1st. Pinch off the 
tops of the shoots, and the sap will then accumulate in the buds." Here we 
will leave our author, and pursue a somewhat different treatment. Early in 
October, or soon after the fruit is gathered, let the shoots numbered 1 and 4, be 
