PKEFACE. 



The following work lias been undertaken, not so mucli in the 

 hope of adding anything new to what is already known of the 

 culture of the vine, as with a view to collect the scattered infor- 

 mation which exists on the subject in periodicals and kindred 

 works as well as amongst practical men, and to throw it into 

 such a shawls as may prove useful to the amateur and the vine- 

 dresser. 



This being our object, we have endeavored to modify and adapt 

 the practice and principles of others to our own climate and 

 wants, and to simplify and explain the processes of the profes- 

 sional gardener so that he who reads may practice. To this end 

 we have in general avoided theoretical discussions, and have 

 depended chiefly upon the practice of ourselves and others for 

 the directions here laid down. For although we know that 

 well established principles are the only sure foundation of all 

 right practice, this is not the place for discussing the theoretical 

 grounds upon which these principles rest. A practical work 

 should deal with facts and be a guide to action. 



As the garden culture of the vine, at least in the northern 

 States, differs from that in the vineyard only in the more 

 thorough preparation of the ground and the larger size of the 

 plants, we have not formally divided the work into sections cor- 

 responding to these two classes, as the principles which govern 

 both are precisely alike. 



Where, however, some peculiar details of management apply 

 to either we have inserted them in the section to which they 

 properly belong— as under the subject of vine boedees and 



