GROWING FROM SEED. 19 



among them, covering so that the upper bud on the four- 

 inch stem will be just above ground; this will give about 

 three inches of soil above the upper tier of roots, which is 

 sufficient for young plants, and more than this would be 

 injurious. After the vine is planted, press the soil down 

 with the foot, so that it shall be firm, but not packed. A 

 good strong stake, say one and a half inches in diameter 

 and six to eight feet long, should now be put down by each 

 plant to tie it to as it grows. Let but one shoot grow, 

 and pinch oif all side branches as they appear ; keep the 

 vine tied to the stake so that it shall not get broken off by 

 the wind and thereby checked in growth, Keep the 

 ground clear of weeds, and stir the surface often with the 

 hoe or rake, but never deep enough to reach the roots. 

 On very loose and porous soils it is better to mulch the 

 plants ; but if the soil is a compact loam, or somewhat 

 clayey, then it is better to hoe often than to mulch, be- 

 cause if you cover up soils that are naturally compact, they 

 will hold too much moisture, and sometimes become soured 

 for want of aeration. 



At the end of the season's growth, and just before the 

 ground freezes, the vines should be pruned, by cutting 

 them back to within eight or ten inches of the ground ; then 

 bank up the soil about them, or bend them down and then 

 cover them ; if covered with straw or leaves, there is dan- 

 ger of their being destroyed by mice. All that is now re- 

 quired is to protect them slightly from the sudden changes 

 in winter. The following spring remove the covering and 

 give the vines a top-dressing of manure, and work it in 

 with the hoe during the summer. The vine should be al- 

 lowed to make only a single shoot this (the third) season, 

 and if healthy and vigorous it will make a growth of ten 

 to fifteen feet if not checked ; but if allowed to grow un- 

 checked, it would necessitate very long and stout stakes, 

 besides the trouble of keeping them tied. It is best not to 

 allow them to grow so long, but pinch off the tops when 



