72 CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



should be at least an inch above the upper eye. These 

 cuttings should be tied in small bundles, and buried in 

 dry soil, or kept in boxes of moderately dry loam in a 

 cold cellar. A cutting-bed should be made in the fall, 

 if convenient, in order that any enriching material may 

 be thoroughly decomposed and incorporated. It should 

 be composed two-thirds of light garden loam, and one- 

 third of decomposed stable manure or spent hot-bed soil. 

 Sand should be added if the soil is too compact ; also a 

 slight addition of coal-ashes, charcoal, bone-dust, or super- 

 phosphate of lime, will be found advantageous. This 

 compost should be at least a foot in depth, and the sub- 

 soil should also be a free loam, at least six inches deeper ; 

 so that capillary attraction may be free in case of dry 

 weather. Great care should be taken to avoid ail decay- 

 ing vegetable matter, even partially decomposed manure. 

 Hence it will be best if the bed is made up in the fall, and 

 forked over in early spring. The bed may be six feet 

 wide. When the ground has become somewhat warm, 

 and heavy frosts have past, from the middle of April to 

 the first of May, the cuttings may be brought out ; and, 

 if properly kept, they will be found to be impatient for a 

 start. Indeed, it will be necessary to guard against too 

 rapid development of the buds by keeping them as cool 



