MY VINEYAKD. 65 



ance. The grapes were sold to better advantage than 

 those of the previous year, the crop brmging me over a 

 hundred doHars. Deducting all exj^enses of tending, and 

 allowing a fair interest on the cost of tlie vineyard, I found, 

 that even this return was more profitable than any other 

 erop which could have been raised. The fall pruning this 

 year consisted in cutting down to one bud the two canes 

 which had fruited, and cutting off the laterals on the other 

 two within an inch of the canes, being careful not to in- 

 jure the buds at the base. Two canes, each about six 

 feet long, were thus left on each vine. A part of these I 

 laid down on the ground and threw a little soil over 

 them ; the others were left tied to the stakes. Since the 

 first year, when the dozen Clintons were protected with 

 straw, I had protected only a small part of the vines, and 

 that part only with soil. The difference between those 

 which were protected and those which were not, was fre- 

 quently imperceptible ; but, where any difierence appear- 

 ed, it was in favor of the protected vines. 



THE FOURTH YEAR. 



The next spring, as soon as the buds began to swell, 

 the two canes were securely fastened to the stakes. Each 

 cane produced ten bunches of fruit, two from each of the 

 five lower branches. The branches were stopped at two 

 leaves beyond the second bunch of fruit, and if more 



