FEB.] THE VINEYARD. 155 



be on level ground scatter the manure as above, equally around the 

 plants. 



If your vines are four years old or more, let it be cast all over the 

 ground, as by this time the roots will be extended to a considerable 

 distance in every direction and prepared to receive nourishment at 

 all points. 



PRUNING OP VINES IN THE VINEYARD. 



In the middle States, the last week of this month will be an excel- 

 lent time to prune vines, unless it should happen to be extremely 

 severe ; in which case it will be better to defer the pruning for a few 

 days longer, but on no account later than the first week in March, 

 which latter period will be a good time to commence that business in 

 the eastern States, allowing there the same latitude in similar cases; 

 but the more to the southward the earlier ought this to be done ; for 

 if deferred till the sap begins to ascend, serious evils will ensue to 

 the plants, in consequence of bleeding too copiously from the wounds. 

 Let it be observed that the sap begins to rise six weeks or more 

 before the buds expand into leaves. 



Such plants as are but one year old from the cuttings must be cut 

 down to one or two good buds each, according to their strength, 

 always cutting about an inch above the bud in a sloping manner, and 

 on the opposite side thereto, observing that the lowermost bud, next 

 the old wood, is never reckoned among the good ones. 



Such of these young plants as have made more than one shoot last 

 season must be deprived of all, by cutting them off as close as possible 

 to the old wood, except the strongest and best placed j which prune 

 as above directed, and cut off such part of the old wood, close to 

 this shoot, as appears above it, in order that the bark may grow over 

 it and the stem become whole and sound. 



Your two year old plants must be similarly treated, with this 

 difference, that you may leave two good buds to each in order to form 

 as many strong shoots for the next season. 



The three year old plants must be headed down to two good buds, 

 leaving not more than two shoots to each plant, which will produce 

 four for the ensuing season; and these, if the plants be in good 

 health, will yield fruit very handsomely that year. 



The fourth year of a plant leave it three of the best shoots, head- 

 ing them down to good buds each ; and observe to cut off the extra 

 branches dose to where they were produced, and in like manner any 

 decayed wood, as well as the spurs or stumps occasioned by last year's 

 pruning ; by which treatment all the parts will get covered with bark, 

 and the stock to be continued in health and vigor. 



According as your vines increase in age and strength, you may 

 leave from four to eight shoots " on a plant, in proportion to its 

 strength, each headed down from two to four or five good buds, 

 always leaving the greatest number of buds on the most vigorous 

 shoots. 



When a vine is extremely vigorous and well furnished, you may 

 head one or two of its best shoots at the height of three or four feet 



