THE VINE. WATER FOR PLANTS. 



357 



tent onrselves with single clusters, but those 

 which are the in<!et prolific. The jrreatest 

 proportion of fiiiit grows from the buds ou 

 the last year's shoots next to the old wood, 

 with the exception of tlie nearest ej'e the top 

 buds being iinfraitful iind seldom bearing at 

 all. Some prefer to plai.it cuttings containing 

 a considerable portion of the old wood ; but, 

 8is it is not always prudent nor economical to 

 mutilate a favontc vine too much, it is liest to 

 select fruitful cuttings of the last year's growth, 

 with the wood well ripened. Thoy should 

 be of a moderate size, short-jointed, and con- 

 taining from six to eight eyes or buds in each. 

 They should bo cut otF transversely from the 

 vine, with a sharp knife, close to the old wood, 

 and not less than two inches of blank wood 

 should be left for the protection of the temii- 

 ivil buds. The ends of the cuttings that are 

 to remain above the ground should be cut in 

 an oblique dii-ection, and the sloping side 

 should be opposite the side containing the up- 

 permost bud. If possible, they s'nould be 

 planted in calm weather, immediately after 

 separation from the parent vini», and be ob- 

 tained from a soil, situation and climate simi- 

 lar to those in which they are intended to 

 grow; but, if any difference in these respects 

 should unavoidably occur, it will be 'oetter to 

 tTcUisplant from a poorer to a richer, and from 

 a dryer to moister soil, as also from a colder 

 to a warmer climate. But, should it be ne- 

 cessary to convey the cuttings from a distance, 

 their lower ends should be immersed in a 

 composition of fine earth, well mixed with 

 linseetl or other oil, of about the consii^tence 

 of tar, as soon as they are cut off from the pa- 

 rent stock ; at the same time taking the pre- 

 caution not to cut off the top ends till the mo- 

 ment they are to be used. 



Management during the First Year. — 

 The ground liaviug been prepared in the man- 

 ner above described, the cuttings are ne.xt to 

 be planted in the centers of the trenches, so 

 that each tenninal bud will be even ^vith the 

 sui'face, and directed toward the south. Then 

 the earth must be finnly pressed round eacli 

 plant, and, should it subsequently settle and 

 leave more than one bud above the ground, 

 more eailh or mould must be added to bury 

 lliem up. 



As soon as the season becomes hot and dry, 

 it will bo necessary to protect the cuttings 

 fmm the mid-day nun, by means of matting 

 or other materials, which should be removed 

 tov^'ard evening, and allow them to remain 

 uncovered until the next morning, at about 

 the time of the disappearance of the dew. — 

 Strict attention must now be ob.«er\-ed in 

 keeping the soil around the cuttings continu- 

 ally moist, and, should not this be effectf^d by 

 natural means, it must be done by sprinkling 

 rain or river water over them, or, what is 

 still better, soap-suds, or other stimulating flu- 

 ids, specially prepared for the purpose, but 

 not too strong. Soon after the cuttings begin 

 to take root, which m;iy bo known by the 

 swelling of the buds above the surface, young 

 shoots will gradually protrude, and the plants 

 will require but little attention during the re- 

 tnainder of the season, except an occa-sional 

 hoeing, to destroy the weeds, and to loosen 

 the soil in order to admit the air and moisture 

 about the roots. Should the season prove 

 diy, however, and the earth around the plants 

 become parched, it will be necessiirj' to irri- 

 gate them frequently with rain or river water, 

 or with prepared liquids as suggested above. 

 Early in autumn, rub off all the buds from 

 each plant, except two, which are to be re- 

 seived for training the ensuing year. 



The method of managing tlie vine from the 

 first to the sixth year, as practiced by Mr. B. 

 E. Valentine, of Philadelphia, and published 

 ill Hoffy's " Orchardist's Companion," for 

 1841, is the same as that recommended by 

 Clement Iloare, a highly esteemed writer on 

 the cultivation of the vine, and whose mode, 

 with a slight variation for climate or seasons, 

 is btlieved to be best adapted for tViis species 

 of culture of any practiced in the United States. 

 ■' On the first of December, or as long as the 

 weather remains open," says he, " the soil 

 round the roots should not be covered over; 

 but, as soon as frost comes, a good covering 

 of litter or well-rotted manure must be laid 

 over the gi-ound, as far as the roots extend ; 

 and, if the weather be very severe, it will be 

 better also to cover over the stem to the depth 

 of five or six inches above the top of it. The 

 young plant, being thus well protected from 

 the severity of the winter, may remain in this 

 state till the first of Mai'ch. 



C^ S. B.'s last, in wliich he courteously takes leave of X. Y. Z., was received too late 

 for this number. We are glad to see them part without any signs of that animosity which 

 intellectutd controversy too often engenders in minds less libei"al and e.xpanded. We 

 should still farther rejoice to have them open and work some of the rich veins in practical 

 Agriculture wliich have not yet been exliausted or explored. 



Best Water for Plants. — It is well known that rain water is much better than spring 

 water for promoting the growth of plants : this is owing to the former containing ammonia, 

 and which ia abundant in liquid manure. Pounded carbonate of ammonia mixed with water 

 will quickly show the eilicacv. when sprinkled on grass. 

 (741, 



