CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 163 



without much difficulty. For the horizontal mode, it 

 will be found that we meet the exact form of growth ; 

 the eyes on each side of the cane pointing towards the 

 side wires. Some varieties are longer jointed than oth- 

 ers, and consequently the eyes on the arms will be farther 

 apart on some kinds than on others. This seems to be a 

 wise design of Nature, to give more space to the coarse- 

 growing kinds. The fruit and foliage of the Delaware 

 being small, its fruit-spurs should be nearly twice as fre- 

 quent as the coarse Concord or Hartford. Soon after 

 the frost has killed all the foliage, let the vines be pruned. 

 It is better to do this early, in order to harden the wood 

 as much as possible before covering. The vine is to be 

 pruned to a single cane ; the laterals being cut half an 

 inch from the cane, and the cane left for' its entire length. 

 Just before the ground freezes, stretch the cane upon 

 the ground, and cover with two inches of earth, as in 

 the previous winter. Up to this time, the soil, if prop- 

 erly enriched and prepared, will have been amply suffi- 

 cient to give the necessary wood-growth. At this period, 

 either late in the fall of the second, or early in the 

 spring of the third season, it is desirable to supply 

 special stimulants for fruit-bearing. It will be remem- 

 bered, that, in the preparation of open vineyard lands, 



