370 



GARDEXIXG FOR THE SOUTH. 



with a slight inclination to the hill, that the water may 

 be collected there to be carried thence to the main drains. 

 The Catawba grape is planted by the vine-growers on 

 level ground, in rows seven feet apart, and four feet in the 

 row, but on hill-sides, three by five feet apart. The vine- 

 yard is laid oft" with a line, and a stake put down where 

 each vine is to grow ; then a broad hole, a foot deep, is 

 dug, in which are placed two cuttings, six or eight inches 

 apart at the bottom, in a slanting position, but with the 

 top eyes only about an inch apart, and even with the sur- 

 face ; throw in a shovelful of well-decayed leaf mould, 

 that the cuttings may strike freely. Cover with an inch 

 of charcoal dust, or light mould, when the cuttings are 

 planted. The cuttings should be short-jointed and well 

 ripened, each cutting having about four eyes, or buds. 

 Cut them oft* close to the lower joint, and about an inch 

 above the upper. The earth should be pressed closely 

 about the cuttings. The best time for putting them out 

 is the last of November or December. The finest vines 

 are raised from cuttings planted where they are to remain. 

 Being undisturbed by removal, they are more thrifty and 

 long-lived. Remove all the cuttings but one, if more 

 than one succeeds, and use them to replace where others 

 have failed. During the summer, keep the ground clean 

 and light, by repeated hoeings, and pull oft" superfluous 

 shoots, leaving but one or two to grow at first, and one 

 eventually. Next spring cut the vine down to two buds, 

 one of which remove when the vine shoots; drive a 

 stake seven feet long to each plant. Chestnut, charred at 

 the end, is very good, but locust and cedar are the most 

 durable ; tie the young vines to the stake, remove all 

 suckers, and allow but one cane to grow. Keep free from 

 weeds, and cultivate as before. The next spring, cut down 

 to three buds, and the year after, to five, and this year, 

 train two canes instead of one. The pruning should take 

 place from November to the last of February. The third 



