490 THE VINEYARD. THE NURSERY. [AUG. 



THE VINEYAKD. 



Keep your vines in neat, regular order, trained up and tied to the 

 poles, and suffer none to trail upon the ground; by this means the 

 influence of the sun and free air will be admitted to the fruit, which 

 are essentially necessary to its timely maturity. 



You should now be very particular in keeping the ground between 

 the vines free from weeds ; for at this time a clean surface answers, 

 in a great degree, to reflect the sun's heat upon the vines and fruit, 

 which will cause them to ripen soon, and acquire an improved rich- 

 ness of taste and flavor ; and besides, neither the vines nor fruit will 

 be so subject to contract mildew, as if the vapors and damps were 

 confined round them by weeds, or by their own branches laying trail- 

 ing about. Some of the early sorts of grapes will begin to ripeu 

 about the end of this month, but the general vintage may be ex- 

 pected some time in September, early or late, according to the 

 season. 



Continue to divest the main shoots of all young side productions, 

 but be careful not to pull off or injure the leaves. Such fruit bear- 

 ing branches as were topped, ought to be likewise divested of young 

 shoots as they are produced, at least of the greater number. 



THE NURSERY. 



BUDDING. 



This is the proper season for budding or inoculating peaches, nec- 

 tarines, almonds, apples, and pears ; also apricots on peach or almond 

 stalks ; but when the apricot is to be worked on the plum, it ought 

 to be done in July. 



Cherries, plums, or any other fruit-trees may also be budded in 

 this month, if the bark parts freely from the stalk. Pears ought to 

 be inoculated in the early part of the month, or while the sap flows 

 freely; but the peach, nectarine, almond, and apple will succeed any 

 time between the first of August and twentieth of September, pro- 

 vided that the stalks are young and vigorous. 



You may now inoculate all such curious trees and shrubs as you 

 wish to propagate in that way ; there are very few but will succeed 

 at this time if worked on good and suitable stalks ; but when you 

 find the bark not to part or rise freely, it will be almost in vain to 

 attempt the work. Many kinds now take "a second growth, and when 

 that is perceivable it will be a very proper time to inoculate them. 

 For general instructions on this subject see page 467. 



