THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 139 



The Isabella, a native grape, succeeds better in the open 

 air than any other variety in this vicinity ; the border should 

 be well made, and in a dry situation; the training must be 

 different from that of the foreign kinds ; it will not bear the 

 severe pruning which is necessary for them ; the summer 

 shoots should be tied to the trellis ; leading up or out, in dif- 

 ferent directions, shoots to be partially retained, at the winter 

 prmiing, for the extension of the vine. In August or Sep- 

 tember, cut back the ends of all the shoots made this year to 

 check the growth, and let the sun and air have access to the 

 vine. Winter-pnine, in February, on the spur system, leav- 

 ing an addition to the extreme shoots of about two feet of the 

 new wood, and when this cane grows too long for the trelHs, 

 cut it back, at the winter pruning, to any length desirable, 

 and lead up a new shoot the coming season to take its place. 



The quantity of fruit that a vine of this variety will ripen, 

 when it has arrived at maturity, under proper management, 

 and is favorably situated, is remarkably large ; two bunches 

 on a spur may be allowed to ripen ; the berries do not require 

 the thinning that foreign ones do ; the small ones only should 

 be cut out. 



When gathered in perfectly dry weather, and put away in 

 a cool place, just above the freezing point, and packed in lay- 

 ers of cotton, they will often keep good until March. Before 

 packing, each bunch should be examined, and any defective 

 berry cut out. 



The Catawba will not ripen as far north as Boston. 



Pond's Seedling is one of the best native varieties ; the 

 fruit, however, is but seldom seen, and it is therefore pre- 

 sumed to be a shy bearer. 



Bland's Virginian will not ripen at the north. 



Elsinburgh is too small to be worthy of cultivation. 



The Ohio grape is tender, and, at the north, requires the 

 same protection as foreign kinds ; the bunches are large and 

 long, but the berries very small. 



The vineyard cultivation of the native varieties of the 



