294 PLAIN AND PLEASANT TALK 



limbs. If the branches can be covered dnrinir the random 

 and prematurely hot days of spring, the tree will not suffer. 

 High, and cool-aired aspects, north hill-sides, northern sides 

 of houses, barns, etc, will answer this purpose. When it 

 can be afforded, long boards may be set up upon the east 

 and south sides of choice trees, upon a frame slightly made 

 and easily removed. 



The reason why more damage has not been done by 

 covering peach-tree roots, than has occurred, is, that the 

 ground has been superficially frozen, and many of the roots 

 extending deeper and laterally beyond the congealed por- 

 tions, have afforded a supply of sap after a motion had been 

 imparted to it in the branches. 



PRUNING GRAPE VINES. 



All know that after the sap begins to flow in the spring, 

 a vine, if cut, will bleed. It seems that at this early period 

 of its development the sap vessels have no power of con- 

 traction. Many suppose that the same state of things con- 

 tiaues throughout the growing season, and are afraid to 

 cut their vines. But after the vine has begun to grow 

 freely (when the leaves, for example, are as large as the 

 23alm of one's hand), a wound very soon contracts, bleeds 

 little or none, and heals over as in a tree. Any pruning 

 which is necessary upon the old wound may, therefore, be 

 fearlessly performed. 



Some inexpert cultivators, in order to let the sun fall 

 upon the grapes, pluck off the leaves; hoping thus to pro- 

 cure sweeter grapes. This is the very way to have acid 

 fruit. Where is the sugar prepared for the cluster but in 

 these very leaves which are taken off? Without leaves, 

 the sap which flows into the cluster has undergone but 



