^ 



166 THE CULTURE OP THE GRAPE. 



tor, there is too much rain ; and, were it not for tliis trouble, 

 it is not likely the vine would succeed, as it requires a season 

 of rest, and enough of cold to cause the leaves to fall. -^' 



" The same latitude does not always allow the grape to ri- 

 pen its fruit in an equal degree of perfection. The south of 

 England has the same latitude with some of the vineyards on 

 and near the Rhine which give good wine ; but the greater 

 humidity and obscuration of the sun prevent the ripening of 

 the fruit, and the observations of Dr. Daubeny have proved 

 that the ripening of fruits depends more on the illuminating 

 rays than on the calorific or chemical rays." L^ 



Planting the Vines. — If rooted vines are to be planted in 

 the vineyard, this operation may be performed at the most 

 convenient time after the fall of the leaf, and the ground is 

 in a good working condition. It should be done with care, 

 spreading the roots cautiously out. If scions of the vine are 

 to be planted, and where the frosts are not very severe, they 

 may be put, immediately on cutting, into the earth where 

 they are to remain. If it is considered necessary to guard 

 them, during the winter, from the frost, they should then be 

 put into boxes with sand or coarse earth, and kept in a cool 

 place, just above the freezing point, and then plant them 

 out as early in the spring as possible. 



The system of Priming and Training the American va- 

 rieties of the G-rape, in gardens^ on houses, and in vine- 

 yards. — The American varieties of the grape 'require very 

 different summer treatment from the European kinds. The 

 system of training them which I should recommend as the 

 best, is the one Speedily advises for espaliers. It is having 

 eight upright canes permanently established, instead of one, 

 as advised by myself, for the grapery. 



The vine is to be established in this form, by the same pro- 

 cess as Mr. Hoare gives for his, (see Hoare's plan,) and is, 

 in fact, restoring this to its original and most judicious sys- 

 tem. After it has once become established, the fall or 

 winter pruning will only be to cut back the present year's 



