Summer -Pi'iming of the Grape. 353 



The leaves should be turned under the soil every spring ; and I have found 

 it beneficial to add to them a liberal quantity of saw-dust, small chips, and 

 fragments of bark collected in a wood-yard. A new layer of leaves should 

 then be applied, and the boards replaced for another year. While thus 

 protected, they appear to suffer neither from the sun of summer, nor the 

 frosts of winter. 



These protecting materials may appear unsightly in a neatly-kept lawn. 

 An ingenious cultivator can contrive means to conceal them. Vines and 

 trailing plants may be trained over them during summer. In winter, they 

 strike the eye no more unfavorably than the furs upon a well-dressed 

 person. 



Lime, ashes, and animal matter, in any considerable quantities, are 

 injurious to plants of this order. Vegetable mould is their requisite food. 



In conclusion, it may be recapitulated that success in their cultivation 

 depends, — 



ist. On furnishing them with a deep soil, rich with decayed-vegetable 

 matter. 



2d, On sustaining that richness by annual supplies. 



3d, On preserving the ground extensively about their roots in a moist 

 condition, similar to that existing in their native forests. 



4th, On protecting the roots from the impression of frost during winter. 



5th, On propagating the shrubby, weaker, and less hardy kinds on the 

 stock of the acuminata. Jared P. Kirtland. 



Cleveland, O., Jan. 9, 1867. 



SUMMER-PRUNING OF THE GRAPE. 



(Concluded.) 



Third, Trimming to direct the growth of the canes. Pinchitig off the 

 ends of some of the shoots is a very important part of summer-pruning ; 

 but it is one which has been very much abused in practice, and still more 

 so in the criticisms of those who theoretically condemn the practice. Be- 

 fore proceeding any faither, it is well for us to consider, that, in all pruning 



VOL. I. 43 



