41 8 THE GRAPE. 



The slow-growing varieties, such as the Delaware, should 

 have a richer soil than more rapid growers. Grapes on highly 

 manured land will grow larger, and present a more showy ap- 

 pearance but the fruit at the same time will be more watery, 

 and of inferior flavor. 



DISTANCES FOR PLANTING. 



The European practice of placing the vines about four feet 

 apart, each way, and training to a single stake, has been 

 adopted to a considerable extent. It succeeds best on poor 

 and light soils, and with the slower growing sorts. Al- 

 though it does well for a few years, it is not to be generally 

 recommended. Young cultivators also fall into the error of 

 placing their vines too near together, when trained with hori- 

 zontal arms on a common trellis. They bear and succeed 

 well while young, but as they become older require more 

 j-oom. It is a common practice to place the lines of trellis 

 eight feet apart, and the vines nine feet from each other, 

 along each line of trellis. This distance appears to answer 

 well ; but some of the best managers give at least twelve feet 

 each way, and others as much as sixteen feet. The space 

 thus given not only tends to a more healthy growth and free- 

 dom from mildew, but develops larger, finer, and more per- 

 fect grapes. 



RAISING GRAPES FROM SEED. 



NEW VARIETIES. Procure well-ripened grapes, wash the 

 seed from the pulp, and mix them at once with moist sand or 

 leaf-mould. Bury them in open ground till early spring. 

 They should not be allowed at any time to become dry, and 

 care should likewise be taken to prevent their becoming 

 water-soaked. They should, in fact, be treated as cherry- 

 stones and pear-seeds are managed by nurserymen. Be care- 

 ful to secure them from mice. Plant in spring, in beds of 

 deep, rich soil, in drills a foot or two apart, and an inch or two 

 apart in the drills, and about an inch deep. Shade the young 

 plants for a few weeks. Provide small stakes for their sup- 

 port, and mulch the surface with an inch or so of good fine 



