PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 179 



three eyes.] From the ends of each of these roots generally three new- 

 ones will be produced (not certain in number — from two to five), and alonp;' 

 the entire length of the remainder of the root that has been cut back pei- 

 manent secondary roots will be produced, occupying the ground fully, and 

 making the vine robust and fruitful. 



I have said that the vines which have been shown as single-eye plants, 

 best selection, are the best plants with naked roots (naked in contradis- 

 distinction from those grown in lattice boxes, or baskets, and moved with 

 a sufficiency of the soil in which they were grown) that can be produced. 

 I must qualify the assertion slightly. The plants of best selection, treated 

 as we have just shown, are equal in all respects to the single-eyes, and 

 can better endure the trials of the first season, without injury, especially 

 where the ground is not in the most perfect state of preparation, from hav- 

 ing been recently done, or where the attendance is not at all times as care- 

 ful as it should be. For myself, I could ask nothing better, for extensive 

 planting, than the single eye, best selection, which I now exhibit. For 

 the large majority of persons who treat their vines pretty well, this of 

 best selection, transplanted, is preferable. 



I will now show you one of four years old, that has been taken up for 

 sale, and it is a pity, too, that it has been taken up. It is a fine Delaware, 

 and the crop of next season, which it is abundantly able to bear, would 

 have brought more than the price now asked for the vine. Let us now 

 prune it for planting. In the first place, cut one of its large canes entirely 

 away, and then cut the other to three eyes, but one of w4iich must be per- 

 mitted to grow. Only the new root that has sprung from near the surface 

 can be retained : all of the rest must be cut off, for it will continue dying 

 for two or three years, until it has all disappeared, and the vine becomes a 

 new plant; so it had better be done thus at once, as all experience teaches. 

 Now you see the three vines, of three different ages, all reduced to the 

 condition of one year old vines for planting. While you are looking at 

 them, I think it may be seen that most of you, with your present light 

 upon the subject, would take the transplanted of two years first, and that 

 of four years last. You would be right; but I will state the case for you 

 a little diflerently. For the experienced gardener, whose attentions are 

 always bestowed at the right moment, the best selection of one year ; for' 

 the attentive amateur, the transplanted best selection ; and for the man 

 who cares nothing about the matter, the vine of four years old. But the 

 time is near when there will be few careless horticulturists, and when good 

 vines, well attended, will be an essential part of every homestead ; not to 

 furnish a supply of a score, or a few scores of pounds, to last only a few 

 days, but hundreds of pounds, for at least six months of the year. 



The wish to obtain, as speedily as possible, fruit so beneficial and excel- 

 lent as that of the gr^e, is so commendable, that I am laboring to encour- 

 age rather than to i^^ress it ; and I desire, moreover, to put every one 

 in the true way to obtain it abundantly, cheaply, of best quality, and as 

 speedily as possible. 



For general planting, the purchaser of the best plants, from single eyes, 

 never does wrong. 



