182 buist's family kitchen gardener. 



By Cuttings. — Shoots of last season's wood, cut into 

 lengths of about a foot long (of many of the sorts), and plant- 

 ed into any rich, light soil, nearly their whole depth, will root 

 in one season, and by care and pruning they will grow to fine 

 plants in two years ; when they should be planted out where 

 they are intended to remain. 



Soil. — The native vine will grow in any kind of soil, except 

 that of a wet or clayey nature, and on any exposure and situa- 

 tion, except low valleys, where in some seasons it mildews and 

 drops its fruit. The best soil is a rich and friable loam, under 

 which there is a stony, sandy, or gravelly bottom. They do 

 not require excessively rich soils, but they stand in need of 

 semi-annual dressings with manures or rich composts, and if 

 this is withheld they will deteriorate in quality and quantity. 

 The soil must be properly ameliorated and enriched before 

 planting, and if trenched with the spade or plough, the benefit 

 derived will amply repay the cost. For vineyards, plant them 

 six feet apart, and eight feet from row to row ; train them to 

 trellises or poles made of Red Cedar wood, or White Oak. 

 Eight feet in height for field culture will be sufficient ; but for 

 city gardens, where borders of rich soil are prepared for them, 

 they will grow to any height, even to the roof of a five story 

 dwelling, and there produce excessive crops. Trellises for 

 training may be made of any shape or form, but those that are 

 upright are preferable. 



Pruning. — On the proper execution of this operation greatly 

 depends the prosperity and fruitfulness of the vine. There is 

 frequently so great a mystery thrown around these simple at- 

 tentions that the timid are afraid even to touch the vine with 

 the knife ; while others, whose boldness goes farther than their 

 knowledge, cut right and left with considerable dexterity, 

 feeling satisfied if they show that the wood is at least cut ofi^. 

 To cut the shoots from three to ten eyes of the preceding year's 

 wood, according to its strength, is a good general rule. To 



