GR-APE VINES. 



241 



in earth, with litter over their upper parts, to protect 

 them from frost, till spring. These may be made either 

 cf one eye or bud, or of four or five, attached to a small 

 portion of the two years' old wood, forming a cutting in 

 the shape of a small mallet, in May, take them out 

 and wash them from dirt, and if they are very dry, let 

 them stand with the lower parts in water six or eight 

 hours. Open the holes fifteen or sixteen feet from each 

 other, which will allow about eight feet for the vines 

 to run each way on the trellis or wall, and put 3 cut- 

 tings into each spot, a few inches apart, to insure the 

 setting of one. When this is ascertained, the two weak- 

 est must be withdrawn. Lay the cuttings a little slop- 

 ing, that their tops may incline to the vvall or stakes to 

 which they are to be tied : they must be put in so deep 

 that the uppermost eyes may be level with the surface 

 of the ground. They should be kept moist, but not wet. 

 (/See Cuttings.') One bud only should be allowed to grow 

 the first year ; the plant should be kept free from weeds ; 

 the earih kept light ; and as soon as the shoot produces 

 latterals, they should be pinched off, but not so close as 

 to injure the vine, and the shoot tied to the sunny side of 

 a stake. By the first of November, this shoot may be 

 cut down to two eyes, not reckoning the lowermost one 

 next the old wood. In our climate, it is probably best to 

 take down the vines, for the first three years, about the 

 middle of November, if the weather is dry, and cover 

 them slightly with earth, forming a slope to prevent the 

 rains from penetrating. The head must not be covered 

 with earth, but with chaff, or some such dry stuff. The 

 plants should not be uncovered till the middle of April. 

 The second years growth should only exhibit 2 branches 

 trained. The good eyes will all shoot forth in ihe spring ; 

 and let them all grow to the length of about eight inch- 

 es before you select the two most proper. Those that 

 are selected must be fastened to the wall or trelli'', as 

 they extend in length. The trellis is to be 5 feet high, 

 and js to consist of a row of liltle locust posts, about .^ 

 inches square, put 2 feet into the ground, and placed about 

 3 feet from each other. Chock the branches of tlie 

 second year's growth at" about 5 feet, pinchiijg ^ff the lat- 

 erals, &c. at about 4 inches, in the fall, trim the vines 



