6 PREFACE. 



adapted for the open-air culture of European varie- 

 ties, yet encourage the most luxuriant growth of 

 native kinds almost throughout the length and 

 breadth of our vast domain. Bountiful Nature has 

 done for us all that we can reasonably ask. The 

 work left for us is to seek for good varieties, and 

 give them generous culture. Difficulties there are 

 and will be ; yet these are such as ought to stimulate 

 rather than discourage. 



The general principles of grape-culture are well 

 understood ; and yet there are differences of opin- 

 ion, different modes of pruning and training, which, 

 however slight they may seem to be in themselves, 

 become of great importance when applied to so vast 

 an interest. It is with a desire to contribute my 

 mite from my own experience that I have prepared 

 this treatise. In order that the work may embrace 

 the combined experience of practical and scientific 

 minds, I have availed myself of such helps as were 

 at hand, especially relying upon Prof. Harris for de- 

 scriptions of injurious insects, and upon numerous 

 writers in our horticultural Monthlies for practical 

 suggestions. 



In order that it may be a guide to the inexperi- 

 enced, it has been my aim to give plain, simple, con- 

 cise rules, not novel, but practical and approved. 



