66 



it is arrested by frost. There is a happy combination of favorable con- 

 ditions; the soil is of a character that insures a healthy but not over- 

 luxuriant growth ; the young shoots commence to mature at an early 

 period during the summer, and when they cease to lengthen they are 

 brown and hard up to their extreme points. Then the fruit is fully 

 ripened, and the quality is of the best, for thoroughly ripened grapes 

 can not be gathered from immature growths. 



I consider this matter of selecting good grape-growing localities as 

 of the greatest importance at the present time. In all localities where 

 mildew prevails successful grape culture can not*be realized without 

 constant vigilance in the application of correctives and preventives, 

 and even these can not always be depended upon. Failures will occur 

 under the best management where the environments are inimical to 

 best success, and in no event can an imperfect climate compare with a 

 perfect one. In view of the fact that perfect localities for grape culture 

 can be selected under climatic conditions of the most favorable char- 

 acter for the protection of the best vines, the subject can not be too 

 strongly urged for the consideration of cultivators of the grape. 



PROPAGATING NATIVE GRAPES. 



For the past few years most of the grapes raised in the garden have 

 been propagated in beds in the open air. Hard, well-ripened wood is 

 selected and made into cuttings, which are each about 4 inches in 

 length. Whether the cutting contains one bud or eye, or more, is not 

 important, and if a single eye can be obtained with 3 inches of wood 

 attached, it is considered a good cutting, although lengths which are 

 under 3 inches are looked upon as uncertain should the weather during 

 the early portion of summer prove to be hot and dry. 



The ground is prepared by turning it over to a depth of 12 inches in 

 the fall, leaving it as rough as possible, so that it may be effectually 

 permeated by frosts. As early in spring as the ground can be worked 

 the surface is carefully forked over and broken up as minutely as prac- 

 ticable; it is important that the soil should be deeply pulverized. 



Previous to inserting the cuttings the surface, is further broken by 

 using a rake having iron teeth 4 inches in length. This operation does 

 not merely consist in raking over the surface, but in pushing the rake 

 to and fro to the full length of the teeth, so as to thoroughly comminute 

 the soil as deep as they will reach. 



The beds are marked off in breadths of 10 feet, with 3 feet wide alleys 

 between. The cuttings are inserted in rows across the beds ; they are 

 placed about 2 inches apart, and the rows are formed about 6 inches 

 from each other, so as to admit of a narrow hoe to be run between 

 them. 



To avoid tramping on the soil a wide board is used to stand upon 



