14 



THE CANADIAN HORTICULTURIST. 



hillsides, and when it becomes necessary 

 to use a fertilizer the next crop is made 

 up and sold under an assumed name, 

 lest the brand be brought into dis- 

 repute. 



Manure should be applied in the 

 fall after the grapes are gathered, so 

 that it may leach into the soil during 

 the winter. Grape roots have a s[)ecial 

 liking for bones, and seem almost to 

 know where to go to find them. A 

 Delaware vine sent a root some distance 

 to a hole in which bones had been 

 buried, and then it branched, and 

 nearly surrounded every bone with 

 roots. The owner prized tlie vine, and 

 would not have injured it willingly, 

 but in spading he accidently cut the 

 root leading to the hole. The vine 

 died, and he ascertained that it had 

 drawn nearly all its food through that 

 one root. 



Eight or nine years ago, when the 

 Lady grape was introduced, I obtained 

 one and planted it as follows : I dug a 

 hole four feet in diameter and two feet 

 deep, and nearly filled it with cows' 

 heads from the slaughter-house. I 

 then tilled in among the bones some 

 good soil and planted the vine, and 

 then sodded it over. The turf has 

 never been removed since, and the vine 

 has done well from the tirst, althoijgh 

 I have no doubt but that the roots of 

 the Concord and Worden near by are 

 trying to get the bones away from the 

 Lady. 



Is it not encouraging to think that 

 on ten feet square of ordinary land, a 

 boy may dig in a wheelbarrow load of 

 bones, and a bushel of ashes, plant a 

 vine worth 10 cents, and then cover 

 the space with grass, and that vine will 

 go on changing those bones into fruit, 

 producing bushels evei'y year until the 

 boy becomes an old man. All the vine 

 will need is a little trimming and a 

 place to hang out its leaves. 



CHOICE OF VIXES. 



The majority of vines are grown in 

 the open air from cuttings. If they 

 have ripened at least a foot of wood, 

 and their roots have received no injury, 

 they are safe to plant. Layers of the 

 best quality, from bearing vines that 

 have not been weakened in any way, 

 are still better, while those made from 

 green wood, late in the season, are 

 almo.st worthless. 



Vines made from single eyes, started 

 under glass early in the season, and 

 grown with skill and care, are su])erior 

 to those grown in the ojien air. New, 

 high-i)riced varieties are usually grown 

 in this manner. * *■ * 



SUMMER PRUNING. 



A vine needs some summer pruning 

 — enough to regulate its growth. No 

 matter what care and skill may have 

 been exercised in pruning and tying up 

 before the growing season, some buds 

 will start with greater vigor than 

 others, and unless they be stopped 

 eaidy in the summer, they will appro- 

 priate to themselves more than their 

 share of sap, leaving other parts of the 

 vine in a starving condition. It is the 

 vine grower's place to see that all have 

 an equal chance, and he should be on 

 the lookout and nip the ends of these 

 would-be-monopolists, and while they 

 are recovering the weaker shoots will 

 catch up, and perhaps hold their own. 

 This much seems necessary to equalize 

 the growth. Besides this, we must see 

 that the truit has a fair chance to ripen, 

 and that good bearing wood be [)rovided 

 for the next season ; for without such 

 provision, fine fruit can not be pro- 

 duced. A vine in vigorous growth 

 sends out a lateral at every joint, and 

 these should be nipped off beyond the 

 first leaf when the best results are 

 desired. This should be done early. 

 By this means the main cane with its 

 leaves and fruit will receive the sap 



