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berries, wash out the seeds, and pack them away in damp sand, 

 in a cool cellar. Be sure and guard against mice, otherwise the 

 seeds will come up before they have germinated. Plant out the 

 seed early in the spring, in fertile, well drained soil, sowing in 

 drills from one to two inches deep. Others prefer to plant the 

 grape whole, as soon as it is perfectly ripe. Either method may 

 be adopted, the latter requiring the least trouble and care. Al- 

 ways select the best berries from the best clusters, and from 

 well ripened wood. It will be noticed that sometimes a vine 

 produces much finer and earlier fruit than most others of its 

 kind, and no matter whether this is owing to its locality, better 

 cultivation, or any other cause, it is likely to transmit its superior 

 merits to its offspring. 



Give the young plants partial shade till they have made two 

 or three leaves, when they may be safely exposed to the sun. 

 In some cases not more than half the seeds will germinate the 

 first season. These are the strongest growers, but often prove 

 sterile and of no value ; while those that grow the second year 

 will give a larger percentage of valuable seedlings. For this 

 reason it is advisable to disturb the seed-bed as little as possi- 

 ble in taking up the vines in the fall, and take good care of such 

 as grow the second year. If the ground is saturated with 

 water, seedlings may be pulled up without using a fork or spade. 

 They require no tying up to stakes the first year, and only the 

 usual cultivation of a garden crop need be given. 



The young vines are likely to be injured by the action of 

 frost on the roots and tops, if allowed to remain in the ground 

 over the first winter, and for this reason had better be taken up 

 and heeled in, in a safe place, where there is no danger from 

 standing water. The second spring, shorten the roots and top 

 by a clean cut of the pruning-knife, and plant out in good soil, 

 two feet apart in the rows, with rows wide enough to admit a 

 horse and cultivator. Tie up to a stake set by each vine, a 

 lath will answer, and cultivate as occasion may require. As 

 the vine reaches nearly to the top of the stake, pinch it off. It 

 will cause the cane to " stock up," and the leaves will thicken 

 up and enlarge. By closely observing the foliage and wood, 

 you may judge of the future character of the seedling. Let the 

 vines stand exposed during the second winter, because, if any 

 are likely to prove tender, the sooner we know it the better : 



