THE 



GRAPE CULTURIST. 



Vol. II. 



NOYEMBEK, 1870. 



No. 11. 



NOVEMBEE. 



WORK FOR THE MONTH. 



This will be a continuation of the 

 work of last month; therefore we need 

 not say much about it. Fall planting 

 should be done in this month, about 

 which full instructions have been given 

 in former numbers. The rows for the 

 planting should be slightly elevated, so 

 that the water will not settle and freeze 

 about the young plants during winter. 

 Tender and half tender varieties, such 

 as Herbemont, Cunningham, etc., etc., 

 should be slightly covei'ed with earth. 

 And here let us say a few words about 

 this great bugbear of so many grape- 

 growers, winter protection,which o/ten 

 detains men who are willing to do any 

 work during summer, to plant such va- 

 rieties as Herbemont, etc., which is, in 

 the proper soil and with winter pro- 

 tection, a sure crop every year. We 

 can assure them that it is not half as 

 laborious as they suppose. If pruned 

 a,t the right time, the canes bent down 

 along the trellis, and a few spadefuls 

 of earth thrown on them to keep them 

 in position, the principal part of the 



covering can be done with the plow, 

 and the whole labor to cover an acre 

 and take it uj) again in spring, will 

 not cost ten dollars. Is this an ob- 

 ject, when a certain crop of such 

 delicious grapes as the southern divis- 

 ion of the Aestivalis family yields, 

 can be gained by it ever}- year ? We 

 have practiced it with the Herbemont 

 and Cunningham for the last eight or 

 nine years, and they never failed yet 

 to reward us by a heavy crop. How 

 much patient toil has been expended 

 on the Catawba without success, to 

 save it from mildew and rot during 

 the summer, by the same men who 

 begrudge this slight labor in the fall, 

 when they have much more time at 

 their disposal, and are sure of a rich 

 reward for their labors. 



Cuttings should be made in time, 

 and the wood never be allowed to get 

 in the least dry; but they should be 

 packed away every day, if possible, 

 tied in bundles, in dry, sandy soil, 

 and covered with earth. 



