232 



The Grape Culturist. 



Fig. 5— Trench Manuring of the Trailing Chain. 



tance of two feet from it (varying according 

 to tlie age of the vines), and about two feet 

 •wide (fig. 6). In those trenches are buried all 

 the fibrous manures that can be obtained , such 

 as bundles of reeds, bushes, green branches, 

 leaves, etc., etc. Tlie advantages of tlie sys- 

 tem ai-e manifold. It manures and drains the 

 soil at the same time; the amount of cartage is 

 less; the lignous elements which it furnishes 

 to the soil are exactly what the vines need 

 most (especially the young vines); the air ad- 

 mitted through these trenches penetrates 



deeply, calling into action a larger amount of 

 nourishing elements (chiefly the silicates of 

 potash) . 



Pruning.— In locations not subject to late 

 spring frosts, the heads of the stocks are kept 

 close to the ground, which disposition has a 

 tendency to check the attacks of oidium; but 

 in cold, impervious soils, it is well to grow 

 them'ifrom one to two feet above ground. It 

 facilitates the gathering up of the whole bush 

 in the plowing season. 



( To he continued . ) 



GEAPES AT HAMMONDSPOET, N. Y. 



" The following account of the grape 

 products at Haramondsville, Steuben 

 County, N. Y., is by Dr. E. Van 

 Keuren, one of our most thorough and 

 conscientious cultivators : 



" ' The grape vines of this region, as 

 a whole, have come through the win- 

 ter remai-kably well, and give promise 

 of a lai'ge crop of fruit. The buds of 

 a few failed to put forth, but they are 

 not much to blame, considering the 

 treatment to which they have been 

 subjected. Over generously enriched, 



and starvingly stinted soil, together 

 with untimely, poor, or positively no 

 culture and training at all, have their 

 results here with grapes, as they do 

 everywhere, and in all other branches 

 of horticulture and agriculture. 



" 'Compaiing notes made in '67, '68, 

 and those being made this year by 

 actual measurement of vines of the 

 same kind in like circumstances, it 

 appears that the season Avith our 

 grapes is a week in advance of either 

 of the past two, and the season has 



