C 134 ) 



fences the shoots should be trained in a horizontal or oblique direc- 

 tion, and each branch singly, so as to allow the air to pass freely 

 through, and cause the wood to ripen well, on which invariably 

 depends the success of the ensuing crop. At Thomery, a town 

 near Paris, celebrated for its fine Grapes, the vines are trained oa 

 trellices eight feet high. These lattices possess this advantage, 

 that the sun can shine on both sides of the vines in the course of 

 the day, and that they allow a free passage to the air, which is of 

 great benefit as well in maturing the fruit, as in ripening the wood. 

 In some parts of France, however, where the culture of the vine is 

 carried to so great an extent, a very simple mode is pursued, which 

 is to place two poles to each vine, and to train up two shoots to each 

 of the poles. This method might probably be found advantageous 

 in this country on the principle of economy, when it is contemplated 

 to establish extensive vineyards. 



Culture, tic. 



It is preferable in winter to protect most kinds of foreign Grapes 

 in the following manner, though there are many which do not 

 require it : — In the course of the month of November, after they 

 have been trimmed according to the above directions, bend each 

 vine gently down, then stake it to keep it in its place; after this, 

 proceed to cover it with earth or litter, hilling the earth up well 

 around, and sloping it to cast off the rain. In the beginning of 

 April, they must be carefully uncovered, and trained along the 

 lattices designed for them, or tied up to the poles in such a way 

 that the branches are kept separate from each other, and, if it is 

 the first season after transplanting, allow but three or four of the 

 most vigorous buds to grow, and rub off the others. It has been 

 urged by some, that the necessity for covering most kinds of foreign 

 vines precluded their culture for the purpose of making Wine ; 

 but it must have been unknown to them, that the vineyards on the 

 Rhine, where large quantities of Wine are made, are treated in this 

 manner. However, even this objection may be remedied by plant- 

 ing only those vines which are cultivated in the north of France , 

 and which there withstand, without protection, a degree of cold 

 full as great as that of the middle states ; the new varieties which 

 have originated in our own country bid fair also to do away every 

 difficulty on this point. The ground around the vines must be 

 kept mellow, and free from grass and weeds; and, every autumn, 

 immediately after pruning them, it will be necessary to have from 

 two to four shovels full of old well rotted manure dug in around 

 sach vine. It is to be understood that the directions for covering 

 the vines during the winter, and the selections of early fruit, &c. 

 are only necessary for the climate north of the Potowmac ; for in the 

 more southern states, no protection of course is necessary, and all 

 the later kinds of Grapes may may be cultivated with every rea- 

 sonable prospect of success ; but all the other directions relative 

 to pruning, training, manuring, &c. will be found necessary as well 

 in a southern as in a northern clime. 



