VINES ON TRELLISES. 73 



best instrument for this purpose. A good sliovel- 

 plough may work for the second, and a cultivator for 

 the third operation. The first should take place before 

 the middle of May, or latest, the first of June ; the 

 second, as soon after the vines are through blossoming, 

 and the third early in the fall, (but not in the dog-days 

 says an old vintner at my elbow,) a traditionary rule, for 

 which it may be hard to give a scientific reason, but 

 which I found true to my sorrow, in two instances in 

 which I acted counter to the rule. In each case my 

 vineyard lost more or less of its foliage, and all of its 

 rich, green tint. 



There are, as yet, no old vineyards in the United 

 States ; but it may be well to mention that old vine- 

 yards must be cultivated with greater care than young 

 ones ; and their roots, even when near the surface, should 

 not be needlessly torn up and injured. 



The same care should also be had in the fall cultiva- 

 tion, so as to disturb as little as possible the tender sur- 

 face-roots, which grow annually out of the head. 



VINES ON TRELLISES. 



In the preceding pages, the mode described is appli- 

 cable particularly for vineyards intended for thq 

 manufacture of wine. If the object should be, how- 



