Th'e Grape Culturist. 



black locust, Avhite oak, &c. They 

 should be seven feet long, and three to 

 four inches in diameter. For wire 

 trellis, one post for every tAveuty feet 

 is sufficient, taking the strongest posts 

 for the ends of the row; and perhaps 

 a smaller intermediate stake for the 

 support of the wires. Many use stakes 

 instead of trellis ; but whoever tries 

 both, will find that trellis is not only 

 more convenient, but also much cheaper 

 and consequently more economical. It 

 is time, that the slovenly system of cul- 

 ture on stakes be entirely abandoned. 

 Trellis saves labor and material in 

 every way. You will find that you 

 need not do half the tieing on trellis, 

 as the tendrils will take hold of the 

 wires themselves ; you can distribute 

 the growth of the vine more evenl}', 

 can give it more air and light, conse- 

 quently it will ripen more perfect. 



Willows for tieing your vines in 

 Spring, can also be prepared during 



this month. The golden willoAv is the 

 best for this purpose, as it is softest, 

 and forms an abundance of small 

 branches. You can cut them out doors, 

 take them into the shop, trim off the 

 small twigs, and tie them into bundles 

 convenient for tying. 



Old and exhaustad vineyards can 

 also be manured during frosty weather. 

 The best manure for vines is surface 

 soil, leaf mould, and decomposed vege- 

 table matter or compost. Animal 

 manures should be used sparingly, and 

 should always be Avell decomposed, be- 

 fore they are used. The}^ create a 

 rank, succulent growth, if used fresh, 

 and also import a disagreeable flavor 

 to the fruit and wine, making it also 

 more liable to rot and mildew. Scatter 

 the soil or manure over the surface, 

 so that it can be turned under with 

 the plough in spring. Heavy, clayey 

 soils may be benefitted very much by 

 a sprinkling with lime, gypsum, &c. 



SOIL AND ASPECT 

 In the present condition of grape 

 culture, when nearly every day brings 

 new varieties, it would be as absurd to 

 give universal rules as it is absurd to 

 search for a universal i^ra-pe, one which 

 will succeed in all locations over the 

 length and breadth of this immense 

 continent. Wc should be glad indeed, 

 if our friends from all parts of the 

 country will give us their observations 

 and experiences on this point, naming 

 varieties of grapes the}^ have under 

 culture, soil, aspect, suscess or failure. 

 The requirements for each variety are 

 so essentially different, that one side 

 of the same hill will often produce en- 

 tirelj' different results than the other. 



OF THE VINEYAED. 



AYe look upon those who speak of one 

 variety of grapes as succeeding every- 

 where, with something of the same 

 suspicion, with which we look upon 

 the physician, who cures all diseases 

 v/ith one remedy; and hope to do our 

 share in defending the public against 

 quacks in grape culture. 



But while it is true that no rule will 

 apply generally, it is equally true that 

 general rules will govern each location 

 and State. Thus wo. find here, that 

 the class of grapes- belonging to the 

 Labrusca or northern fox grape divi- 

 sion, generally require a deeper and 

 more clayey soil, than those be- 

 loniring to the Aestivalis or Summer 



