JAN.] THE NURSERY. 61 



You may also at this season cart manure into the vineyard, and 

 spread it as directed in February, repair old fences, and prepare posts 

 and rails, or boards for new ones ; examine your ploughs, harrows, 

 spades, shovels, hoes, mattocks, and all your other tools, and have 

 such as need it repaired ; purchase any new tools that may be want- 

 ed, and have all your necessaries in readiness for the opening of the 

 spring. 



In such of the southern States as have mild winters and early 

 vegetation, vines may now be pruned, as directed under the head 

 Vineyard in February, but with them, November would be a much 

 more eligible time for this work. In the middle States you must defer 

 the pruning of vines to the last week or ten days in February, not 

 later, except in extremely severe weather, but on no account later 

 than- the first week of March, for soon after that period the sap be- 

 gins to ascend, after which, were you to prune them, they would 

 bleed so copiously from where the wounds were inflicted, as to greatly 

 exhaust and injure them, and even totally to destroy some. In the 

 eastern States this work may be done between the first and tenth of 

 March, according as the spring may be early or late, observing that 

 it is safer to prune too early than too late. 



Under the head Vineyard in March, you will find general instruc- 

 tions for the different methods of propagating and cultivating the 

 vine, both as espaliers, and in the field way ; likewise concise descrip- 

 tions of the various kinds which have been generally cultivated, either 

 for table use or making wine ; and also, observations on the kinds 

 most likely to succeed in the various parts of the Union. 



THE NURSERY. 



THOUGH this is not a period in which much business can be done 

 in the Nursery, especially in the middle and eastern States, it may 

 be well to call attention to that eminently useful department ; in 

 order that those who have not yet attempted it, may have time to 

 consider of its utility, and be determined, when the season arrives in 

 which it can be commenced. 



The many advantages which every lover of improvement and plant- 

 ing may derive from having a nursery of his own, especially in such 

 a country as this, where public nurseries are so scarce and frequently 

 so remote, as to render it extremely inconvenient to procure such 

 trees as maybe wanted; the expenses of transportation to a con- 

 siderable distance ; the length of time the trees have to be out of 

 ground, and the consequent uncertainty of their growth ; the hazard 

 of procuring the intended or even good kinds except the proprietors 

 are men of experience, knowledge, and integrity are strong induce- 

 ments to the establishing small and convenient nurseries, in which 

 the owners may raise such kinds of fruit and forest-trees, ornamental 

 shrubs and other plants, as may be pleasing and profitable to them- 

 selves, useful to posterity, and ornamental to the country. 



