54 AMERICAN GRAPE CULTURE. 



ing and planting in the fall, a large majority 

 will probably continue, as at present, to pur- 

 chase in the spring. They will perhaps be 

 governed by a desire to save trouble, or the 

 fear of losing their plants through some mis- 

 management of the details of "heeling in," or 

 the trying alternations of winter. Under such 

 circumstances, most of the advantages above 

 named may be secured for spring by proper 

 fall management of the plants on the part of 

 the propagator. The plants should be "lifted" 

 or dug up in the fall, and the unripe roots, if 

 any, cut off, and the healthy character of the 

 plants well ascertained. They should then be 

 carefully " heeled in " in clean sand in the 

 manner just described. Careful propagators 

 have a cellar or pit specially prepared for this 

 purpose, in which the plants keep admirably, 

 the conditions of safety being well understood 

 and thoughtfully provided. Where a cellar or 

 pit is not possessed, recourse must be had to 

 the open air. In this case, a place sheltered 

 from the south should be selected, and the 

 plants bedded in sand. This may be permit- 

 ted to freeze a few inches, but the frost should 

 not be allowed to reach the roots. The whole 

 should then be covered with straw and ever- 



