GRAPE-VINE. - 67 



devoted his attention to the native kinds. An inte- 

 resting communication from him on this subject may 

 be found in the Albany Ciiltivator for January, 18435 

 in which he says that in the vicinity of New York, 

 south of the highlands of the Hudson, he finds that 

 the Isabella grape ripens quite as w«ll when planted in 

 a level field, protected from the north and west winds 

 by woods or hedges, as on declivities. "Several of 

 my vineyards," he observes, "are thus located, and, as 

 far as I can perceive, the fruit ripens at about the 

 same time, and is of the same quality as those planted 

 on steep side-hills. I think, however, that north of 

 the highlands, side-hills would be preferable.", 



A plan adopted by Mr. William Wilson, of Cler- 

 mont, near Philadelphia, to secure his foreign grape- 

 vines, grown in the open air, against the severe frosts 

 of American winters, is well deserving of attention. 

 The vines are left their whole length after they get 

 their fall trimming in October, and in November. are 

 let down from their supports, laid on the ground at full 

 length, fastened down Avith pins, and covered lightly 

 with earth. In this state they are left all winter. In 

 April, as soon as the weather will permit, they are 

 uncovered, and left lying on the ground ten or twelve 

 days. About th^ first of May, 'they are trained' to 

 their stakes or poles, of the length of ten feet and 

 upwards. By the middle of June the stakes are en- 

 tirely covered by new shoots of the vine, and with 

 plenty of fruit, which ripens in September. Before 

 adopting this plan, Mr. AVilson says his fruit was fre- 

 quently-blasted and mildewed, but by its aid he has 

 since succeeded in training vines twenty or thirty feet 

 long, some of which ran up fruit-trees adjacent, whilst 



