140 



THE VINEYARD. 



To the preparatory and other necessary work, recommended in 

 January, to be done in the vineyard, page 48, I again call your 

 particular attention; if it is put oft" till March, you will then find 

 the consequent embarrassment of such neglect; therefore let every 

 preparation be made in this, as well as the last month, that the sea- 

 son will admit of. 



The beginning of this month will be a good time to cart manure 

 into the vineyard; laying it down in the most elevated places pos- 

 sible for the ease of wheeling it on barrows down among the rows 

 of vines; this ought to be perfectly rotted, and of a quality suited 

 to the nature of the soil; well rotted cow dung is the best manure 

 for ground of a very hot nature, but, if very cold or stift', which 

 ought to be as much avoided as possible in the planting of a vine- 

 yard, it may be improved by well rotted horse dung or street dirt; 

 when these cannot be had, any kind of well incorporated rich 

 compost or other manure may be used. 



If the vineyard be on the declivity of a hill, and your vines 

 are not more than one, two, or three years old, scatter a good 

 shovelfull or two of this manure principally on the upper side of 

 each plant, observing that none of it reaches within six inches of 

 the stem; for if placed close thereto slugs, worms, and the embryos 

 of various insects, so frequently found in dung and other manure, 

 would take shelter about the stock, penetrate down along its roots, 

 and might materially injure it at a future period. But when these 

 are exposed, without the advantage of this protection, to the 

 severe frosts of the season, the greater number of them will be de- 

 stroyed thereby. 



The manure so placed its nutritive parts will be washed down by 

 rains, and the whole, by the necessary culture, will ultimately be 

 brought to the roots of the plants. When the vineyard happens to 

 be on level ground scatter the manure as above, equally around 

 the plants. 



If your vines are four years old or more, let it be cast all over 

 the ground, as by this time the roots will be extended to a considera- 

 ble distance in every direction and prepared to receive nourishment 

 at all points. 



Pruning of Vines in the Vineyard. 



In the middle states the last week of this month will be an ex- 

 cellent time to prune vines, unless it should happen to be extreme- 

 ly severe; in which case it will be better to defer the pruning for 

 a few day9 longer, but on no account later than the first week in 

 March, which latter period will be a good time to commence that 

 business in the eastern states, allowing there the same latitude in 



