124 [Senate 



apart each way. In the fall, cover the whole surface of the soil with 

 decayed leaves, (if to be had, and if not,) with well rotted manure, 

 one inch deep. The following spring, spade the ground between 

 the hills four or five inches deep with a narrow spade, and then cov- 

 er the soil with saw-dust or tanners bark, one inch deep. When 

 the fruit is cultivated on a large scale for market, it is better to set 

 the plants in drills twenty-four inches apart, and the plants in the 

 drills twelve inches apart, and cultivate the same as in hills. 



Currants. 



In putting out currant plants, select those shoots of a previous 

 year's growth — cut out all the eyes except three for producing bear- 

 ing branches — having made the soil mellow, set out the plants by 

 sticking them down in the ground fur or five inches deep, in rows 

 four feet apart, and fifteen to eighteen inches apart in the rovvs. 

 Keep the plants tiimmed as trees, and the fruit will be much improv- 

 ed in size and quality. Enrich with leached ashes, or any good com- 

 post. 



Gooseberries 



Should be cultivated in a similar manner to currants. Enrich the 

 soil with a compost made of swamp muck, lime and fine charcoal 

 dust ; this should be well rotted, and will prevent blight and mildew. 



Quinces. 



The pear, orange, and Portugal varieties, are generally considered 

 the finest sorts for extensive cultivation. 



The Grape. 



The cultivation of grapes, both as a dessert fruit and for manufac- 

 turing wine, is attracting so much attention that the most approved 

 method of putting out vineyards is here given. The soil should be 

 warm, dry and rich. Prepare it by ploughing and subsoil ploughing to 

 the depth of iourteen to eighteen inches. Strike out furrows eight 

 feet apart. Set out the vines six feet apart in the furrows. The 

 vines should not be taken from the nursery till two years old — or 

 the cuttings may be put into the vineyard in the first instance. En- 

 rich by mixing with the soil around each root one quart of fine bone 

 dust, and two quarts of bones partially pounded. Another excellent 

 manure is the offals of fish j or where the menhaden, (or mossbunk- 

 ers, as they are sometimes called,) or where herrings are plenty and 



