184 Vineyard Culture. 



bing against the support. The vine is thus secured firmly- 

 enough to sustain its weight of foliage and fruit, throughout 

 the summer. At the same time care is taken to have the 

 plane of the bows correspond to the direction of the rows of 

 stakes, otherwise they will project into the spaces, and offer 

 obstructions to the movements of the horse in cultivating, and 

 may be seriously injured by being caught in the single-tree. 



In tieing the vines to the trellis, whether of wire or of 

 wood, the same precaution will be necessary, to twist the 

 willow upon itself, before fastening the vine to its place.] 



The best ties that can be used to fasten the plants 

 against the supports, are willow slips, for which rea- 

 son it will be advisable to reserve, in the neighbor- 

 hood of the vineyard, an area of land sufficient for the 

 cultivation of the requisite quantity of willow. The 

 soil for that purpose should be rich, fertile and rather 

 cool. The willows may be planted quincunx fashion, 

 at the distance of three feet apart. This land must be 

 dressed twice a year — a plowing in winter, after the cut- 

 ting of the willows, and a second plowing in summer. 



[The willow chiefly applied to this purpose is that known 

 as the golden or yellow, which our botanists tell us is but a 

 variety of the Salix Alba, that has attracted so much attention, 

 within a few years, in the west, as the White Willow. This 

 is the tree which, in some parts of the country, has long been 

 grown for making gun-powder charcoal. 



The yellow willow may be planted along a ditch-bank, 

 though water is not necessary for it. To produce good ties, 

 the trees should be headed back to low pollards. They are 

 cut every year, and the small laterals are taken off, tied up, 

 and kept in a damp cellar until needed. 



Another willow, which has been found very serviceable is 

 the true osier, Salix Viminalis, the purple osier," cultivated for 



