854 



The (Jrape Cnltarist. 



DECEMBER. 



"\V O R K F O K THE MONTH 



Pruning may still be continued, if 

 not finished in November, cuttings 

 made and stored awaj'. This will also 

 be a good time to manure vinej^ards, 

 where needed. The best fertilizer we 

 have used is fresh surface soil from the 

 woods, especiall}^ where the soil has 

 been washed away from the vines. If 

 animal manures are used, they should 

 be well decomposed, mixed with veget- 

 able matter, etc. We have found but 

 little use for manures here, in the rich 

 virgin soil of our hills, and would pre- 

 fer a surface dressing of surface soil, 

 leaf mould, etc., to all others. 



. Trellis can also be repaired and made, 

 and even planting ma}^ be continued 

 when the ground is open and works 

 well. Remember that ever}' daj^s' labor 

 now done, is so much gained in spring, 

 when you will have work enough any 

 way. A thorough grape grower should 

 alwaj-s rather be ahead of his work, 

 than pushed by it, and the slovens, 

 who always have time enough, and 

 spend the fine winter da3's idling around 

 the stove, or worse still, in bar rooms 

 and country stores, spinning yarns for 

 the edification of the idlers, will find in 

 spring that their work is driving them, 

 and that they cannot make up for lost 

 time. 



If you have a cellar full of wine, you 

 will find plenty to do even in bad days, 

 when you can do nothing out of doors. 



as this is pre-eminently the month for 

 the first racking. See article on man- 

 agement of wines in November No. 



Ever}' vintner should have an out- 

 door cellar, kept rather moist, for his 

 grapewood, roots, etc. It can be easil)^ 

 made by digging a hole, setting posts 

 inside, with boards behind them to 

 make the walls, then put rafters on the 

 posts, cover them with boards, and 

 throw ground over the whole. With very 

 slight cost, you will thus have an excel- 

 lent place to keep your grape wood 

 fresh. Prune the vines in fair weather, 

 bundle up the trimmings, and store in 

 your C(3llar ; when bad weather sets in, 

 you can trim and cut them into cuttings 

 and always have work on hand. By 

 thus taking advantage of every daj' 

 and hour, much work can be done in 

 the winter which is generall}^ done 

 in spring, you need not be driven 

 by your labor, and will feel all the 

 easier and happier for it. 



Clearing can also be made, and 

 ground got ready for spring planting. 

 Those who have not tried it do not 

 know how the diligent workman can en- 

 joy the winter evenings around the fam- 

 ily hearthstone, when a well spent day 

 lies behind him. He may be tired, but 

 it will be of healthy exercise, and his 

 rest will seem all the sweeter to him, 

 because he knows he has justly earned it. 



