248 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



May 



add their portion of animal matter to the earth, 

 and we have soil. Then the birds or insects or the 

 wind drop upon this layer of dust, just made fer- 

 tile, the seeds of the lowest forms of vegetation — 

 lichens or mosses; and these spring into being, 

 and absorb nourishment from the dews and rains, 

 as also from the air, and then die and add more 

 largely to the deposit among the rock-dust, and 

 make it yet better soil^-more suitable for support- 

 ing and promoting the growth of plants. And so 

 the process goes on : each successive life and de- 

 cay, whether animal or vegetable, or both, deep- 

 ening the soil, till we have it ready for our luxuri- 

 ant fields of grain and our elegant gardens and 

 magnificent forests. From time to time, as the 

 ground passes from one proprietor to another, its 

 component parts ai'C modified ; and its crops varj^ 

 according to the wisdom and discretion exercised 

 in its cultivation. 



All plants should have their proper soil — that in 

 which they can attain their most perfect growth. 

 For garden plants the hazel-colored loam obtained 

 beneath the surface of the ground when excava- 

 tions are made, is said to be best : it often has a 

 good eflfect upon old fields and gardens when thor- 

 oughly mixed with then- surface-soil. Black, or 

 verj' dark-coloi'ed, is warmer than the light soil ; 

 and if not too heavy, brings its plants more quickly 

 to maturity. But all soil must be loose in texture. 

 This it is apt to lose in cultivation, and it can only 

 be kept by constant hoeing and stirring — some- 

 times by the addition of sand and gi-avel. The 

 gases generated in its bosom, which ai-e essential 

 to the health of its vegetation, cannot escape un- 

 less due attention is paid to this matter. 



Besides good soil, plants need light, and sun- 

 shine, and air, and water ; there must be care in 

 the arrangement of a garden so that all may get 

 their proper share of these good gifts. Nothing 

 is gained by crowding or stinting. One plant with 

 ample room for air and sun will attain a better 

 growth, and put forth more blossoms, and perfect 

 more fruit, than twenty dwarfed and starved by 

 trying to live in {oo limited space. 



A woman's first thoughts in making a garden are 

 what flowers she shall have and how she shall 

 place them. But it will be well for her to try 

 her hand also at vegetables — a few for family use. 

 And then, if she has land enough, fruits— the 

 smaller ones, especially. But, above all, she will 

 want trees : because, after all her delight in the 

 frail beauty of the flowers, she feels a deeper, 

 a loftier joy in the grandeur and glory of their 

 leafy arches, which year by year point higher and 

 higher towards heaven ; while in the rustling of 

 their verdant boughs she seems to hear sweet 

 whisperings of peace, which they liave thence 

 brought down to quiet her restless soul and over- 

 anxious heart. If it be possible, plant at least one 

 tree. Not only for the joy and peace tl at it can 

 impart, but to keep your memory green in the 

 days when your feet may no longer walk along 



the household ways, and your voice is no more 

 heard within the walls of home. 



But a tree requires much room to spread its 

 branches, so many must content themselves with 

 the next best thing — a vine. This is the most 

 graceful of plants, and always desirable — because 

 it so readily hides ugliness and deformity. No 

 house should be without one, for a hand's breadth 

 of soil in which to place its root can certainly be 

 found by every dwelling. 



The Vine, par excellence, the common grape, 

 Vitis Vinifera, gives its name to the whole great 

 family of climbers and runners ; and commends 

 itself first to our notice, with its refreshing shad- 

 ows from the sulfry noons of summer and rich 

 burden of luscious fruit for the autumn — if we 

 care nothing for the delicate fragrance of its mod- 

 est blossom in the spring time. Long before gar- 

 dens were designed, or mankind dwelt in houses, 

 the wandering tribes of the East had discovered 

 the healthful properties of the grape, and so when 

 they settled into communities each man had his 

 own vine. As civilization advanced, attention 

 was paid to its culture, till large tracts of land 

 were set apart for this particular purpose. Almost 

 from time immemorial these vineyards have been 

 a source of wealth to the southern part of Europe ; 

 and when the Spaniards took possession of Cen- 

 tral America the Romish priests carried thither 

 this vine. It flourished luxuriantly, spreading 

 throughout Mexico and Texas, and, finally, reach- 

 ing California ; some parts of which at the present 

 time are prolifi« in a wine-bearing grape — descend- 

 ant of this stock. For many years attempts were 

 made in the United States to naturalize the wine- 

 grape of Europe, but the climate proved unfavor- 

 able. Our wild vines then began to attract the 

 notice of horticulturists ; and by careful cultiva- 

 tion, crossing and re-crossing with other species — 

 both native and foreign — we have now many 

 delicious varieties. 



The first seedling from a native grape, that was 

 satisfactory, received the name Isabella, in honor 

 of Mrs. Isabclhi Gibbs, who raised it, about the 

 year 1818. It thrives well throughout the country, 

 except in the northern part of New England, 

 where the autumn is too short for the perfection 

 of its fruit. It varies greath% both in flavor and 

 appearance, according to the locality in which it 

 grows ; but when well-rii)ened it is always a fa- 

 vorite. It can be kept through the winter, by 

 packing with cotton or saw-dust, in a dry, cool 

 place. Soon after this variety was introduced 

 came the Catawba, from the banks of the river 

 so-called, in North Carolina. For many years 

 these two were the onlj' or nearly the only kinds 

 deemed worthy of cultivation. 



Then came the Delaware, a native of Ohio. Its 

 beautiful, compact bunches of small berries, rich 

 in nectareous juice, suit the palates of Ihe Yankees 

 so well that they are willing to g' vc it the protection 

 and 'Shelter that it needs to get through their long, 

 cold winters. After this, the Concord, originating 



