THE VINEYARD AND ORCHARD. 91 



The ground in which a layer is placed should be 

 very rich, and its surface round the young grow- 

 ing vines always kept moist and free from weeds. 

 In the autumn, after the leaves have fallen and the 

 wood is ripe and hard, cut off the layered branch 

 close to the vine, and with a garden-fork gently 

 and carefully lift it, with all its roots and young 

 vines attached, out of the soil. First cut the young 

 vines back to three or four buds, then separate them 

 from the branch from which they grew, being sure 

 to give each plant plenty of roots, and the roots back 

 of the point from which it grew ; that is, those roots 

 nearest the parent plant from which the branch 

 was layered. All the old wood of the branch that 

 is naked, free of roots, should be cut off. The 

 young shoots thus separated are now independent 

 vines, and may be set out at once where they 

 are to fruit. If you have a variety that does not 

 do well, or that you do not like, dig it out, enrich 

 the soil, and put one of your favorites in its place. 



We will now consider briefly the diseases and 

 insect enemies of the grape. A vine may be 

 doomed to ill-health from its very situation. Mr. 

 Hussman, a grape-culturist of great experience 

 and wide observation, writes : " Those localities 

 may generally be considered safe for the grape in 

 which there are no miasmatic influences. Where 

 malaria and fevers prevail, there is no safety for 



