THE CULTUKE OF THE GRAPE. 87 



The stock should then be cut down, the scion having been 

 kept in a dormant state." — Loudo7i's Magazine, |)age 494, 

 vol. 12th. 



In grafting vines, I have cut them off at the surface of the 

 ground, and with a knife have split the stump in the middle 

 and inserted the grafts, cut in a wedge shape ; they have 

 always grown. (See grafting, as practised by Mr. Cleveland 

 and Dr. Sidney Weller.) 



TREATMENT OF THE VINES. 



First Year. 



The first year, they should not be forced, but allowed to 

 push naturally as the season advances. 



In the vicinity of Boston, they will push their buds early 

 in April ; let the shoots from the three eyes grow until they 

 are two or three feet long ;* tram up the leading one to the 

 roof, and stop the other two, by pinching off the end of each ; 

 the leading cane must be stopped, when it reaches the top of 

 the rafters ; the vine wiU be strengthened, by allowing it to 

 make a free growth ; after September, stop all shoots as they 

 push, that the vine may the better ripen the wood.f 



Early in the spring, throw open the house and give air 

 freely, continuing to do so during the season, when the mer- 

 cury is above freezing ; it is best to shut up the house at 

 night, leaving one or two lights a little open, to let the moist- 

 ure escape. It will not be necessary to syringe the vines, 

 provided they have ample moisture at the roots. If the 

 weather is dry, and the vines are not growing well, give them 



* Perhaps it is best to allow all the lateral shoots to grow, the first three months of 

 the first season after planting, to guard against accident to the leading shoots, as any 

 check to tlie growth of the top is felt, in a corresponding degree, by the roots. For 

 instance, if only one shoot is beuig trained up, and this should be broken out, and 

 the vine should make a second, it would be but a weak one, and a loss of one year 

 in the fruiting would be the result. 



t Vines will grow as rapidly in a moist temperature of 80° or 90° as under any 

 circumstances. 



