THE 



GRAPE CULTURIST. 



Vol. II. 



JUNE, 1870. 



No. 6. 



JUNE. 



WORK FOR THE MONTH, 



June is, with us here, eminentl}' 

 the growing month, and the vintner 

 will have a busy time of it, a time 

 which is especially' trying to slug- 

 gards. 



Keep the 3'oung shoots of your 

 vines well tied to the trellis, but tie 

 loosel}', so as not to cramp the 3'oung 

 growth and crowd the foliage. Tie 

 always so as not to interfere with the 

 fruit-bearing branches. This will also 

 be the time to pinch the ends of the 

 young canes, as described in the arti- 

 cle on " summer pruning " in May 

 number. The third and last stage of 

 summer pruning will be treated in a 

 separate article. 



Keep your vineyards clean, plow 

 and hoe frequentlj' during rfry weather, 

 it is the best mulch and manure you 

 can give 3'our vines. Look after your 

 grape grafts, keej) them free from 

 suckers, and well mulched with saw- 

 dust or spent tan. As soon as the 

 graft starts into vigorous growth, 

 keep it tied well, so that the winds 

 cannot blow or break it off. Attend 

 to the cutting beds, keep thom clean 

 and mellow with plow, hoe, and weed- 

 ing fork. Clean and mellow soil is a 

 requisite for success in growing an}' 

 plant, but especially for the grape 

 vine. 



Stir the ground about your spring 

 layers, taking care, however, not to 

 disturb the young rootlets which will 



be forming about this time. This 

 will be the time for summer layering, 

 which need not be attempted, how- 

 ever, where the vines are large enough 

 to shade the ground. It can onl}' be 

 successful the lirst and second year 

 after planting. For this purpose, the 

 leading cane for layering shou'd be 

 left loose and trailing on the ground, 

 and when it has grown to the desired 

 length, pinch off the leader, so as to 

 push the laterals into more vigorous 

 growth. Make the ground loose and 

 mellow, and cover the leading shoot 

 to the depth of about one inch with 

 mellow soil. The laterals will then 

 take root and make good plants. 



We know that summer laj'crs have 

 been condemned by man}' as worth- 

 less plants, and no doubt there are 

 many such; but where they have air 

 and light enough, we have had them 

 make roots of three feet long, firm 

 and solid, and wo would as soon plant 

 a vineyard with such layers as with 

 the best spring layers. It matters 

 not hoiv a plant has been grown ; if it 

 has an abundance of firm, well ripened 

 roots, it will grow and flourish. We 

 would certainly rather have a good 

 summer layer than a poor spring 

 layer. 



The operations of this month are 

 mostly a continuation of the work in 

 May, and thus but little more can be 

 said about them. 



