TREATMENT OF YOUNG VINES. 59 



pulling them up with, the hand, after having loosened 

 them with a fork. But generally after the second or 

 third years' careful cultivation, the vines will take 

 care of themselves and will eat out weeds and grass, 

 and thus leave but little to be done by the grower. 



On uplands, where the vines are planted, the way in 

 which they are treated in order to make them do well 

 is to hoe them, and that as frequently as you can. In 

 this case, it is usual to plant in hills, and keep a space 

 unoccupied between the hills, so that in hoeing, there 

 will be no runners cut or destroyed. But the object 

 of hoeing on uplands is more with the view of making 

 the soil light and porous, so that moisture will the more 

 readily be taken in and received by the roots. 



FLOODING. In fall planting, it is always best to flood. 

 And where the vines can effectually be covered with 

 two or three feet of water, they are not likely to suffer. 

 The depth of water which covers them prevents them 

 from being frozen, so that when the thaw sets in, the 

 vines retain the situation in which they were planted. 

 This water should be drawn off in the middle or latter 

 end of May. But if frost continues, it is not well to 

 drain it off until it disappears, for by keeping the vines 

 flowed it prevents them from blossoming, so that there 

 will be no danger of the flowers being destroyed by 

 frost. Though the vine is a hardy plant, yet its blos- 

 soms, and berries are very sensitive, and are soon 



