The Vineyard. 



THE VIXEYAEp. 



'.V O R K r R 



January, generally the dreariest and 

 most inclement month of the year, is 

 upon us, yet the diligent vintner will 

 not find much time for rest, for he 

 knows that he should do all the work 

 he possibly can, before bus}' spring is 

 upon him. 



In our latitude here, it is often prac- 

 ticable, especially on southern hill- 

 sides, to prepare the ground for new 

 plantations. Clearings for that pur- 

 pose may be made in timbered lands, 

 by careful grubbing; for we would nqt 

 ■advise to leave a single stump in lands 

 devoted to Yineyards. They will be 

 a continual eyesore and hindrance, and 

 although it may cost a little more at 

 the start, to take them out ; yet it will 

 not be near so expensive, as the time, 

 worry and diamage it will cost, to work 

 •siround them. 



If all your vines have not been 

 pruned in the fall, this operation may 

 still be continued, and cuttings made 

 of the trimmings. But it is by far the 

 better plan, to ao it in fall, immediately 

 after the leaves have dropped. If you 

 have not time then, to prepare 3'our 

 cuttings, tie the trimmings into bund- 

 les, just as they are, and bury in sand. 

 They can thus be kept fresh and green, 

 taken out any time during the win- 

 ter and trimmed and cut at your lei- 

 sui'e ; when the cold blasts of January 

 howl around the house you can com- 

 fortably cut them in your shop or 

 room. Pay strict attention, however, 

 to keeping the wood fresh. You can 

 not expect your cuttings to grow, if 

 the wood has become dry. Cut close 

 below an qxq, with a sharp pair of 



THE MONTH. 



shears, or still better, a sharp knife; 

 make 3'our cutting about nine to twelve 

 inches long, and leave about an inch 

 above the upper eye or bud. Then tie 

 in convenient bundles, say 250 in a 

 bundle, and bury them in the ground, 

 or in sand in the cellar. 



In j)runing your vines, do not cut 

 too close to the eje, as the upper bud 

 will often suffer from cold and the 

 influences of the weather, if the cut 

 is too close. 



The diligent vintner need not loose 

 a single hour on account of the weath- 

 ei', as he can always prepare enough 

 of in door work during the fine autum- 

 nal weather. And he should not loose 

 any time, for he will find enough to do 

 all the year round. His life, although 

 most of the work is light, must needs 

 be a busy one ; and there is no avoca- 

 tion which we know, in which neglect 

 and waste of time is so severely pun- 

 ished, as in that of the grape grower. 



This will also be an exellent time to 

 prepare the material for your trellis. 

 If you have timbered lasid, get your 

 posts ready. On a clear winters day, 

 nothing is more invigorating, than to 

 take the axe, and fell the timber for 

 your posts. There is something cheer- 

 ing in the ringing sound of the axe, 

 the toppling over of the tree, and at 

 last the crash of its fall, scattering 

 the snow and ice far around, which we 

 have often experienced ; and lo which 

 our heart yet returns with secret long- 

 ing and pleasure. What if it tires ; 

 you will rest all the better at night. 



The most suitable timber for posts 

 is red cedar, next best, mulberry, 



