MANAGEMENT OF MEADOWS. 



61 



discouraging to the novice ; he should not despair if the 

 vines are on a situation adapted to them ; the grass may 

 be overcome witliout hand pulling, by simply mowing it 

 off in summer, to prevent its going to seed, and then 

 keeping the water up late in the spring — say until about 

 the first of June. 



This late flooding is quite destructive to the grass, 

 without being injurious to the young vines, which start 

 off vigorously when the pond is drained, and make good 

 use of the advantage they have gained. 



Josepli Hinchman succeeded in subduing the grass 

 upon his most valuable meadow by summer mowing and 

 late spring flooding. 



Thorough drainage is required to obtain a growth of 

 vines ; but after the mat is completed, there are certain 

 times when considerable moisture is necessary to insure a 

 good crop ; for instance, during a season like that of 1869, 

 when a drouth, occurring in June, blasted fifty per cent 

 of the blossoms upon most plantations ; on meadows 

 naturally moist, and on those which were irrigated by 

 raising the water in numerous ditches, the loss \\ as much 

 less. Again, there are other advantages in having a 

 moist surface (not surface water), while the fruit is grow- 

 ing ; viz : it causes the late formed berries, of which there 

 are always more or less, to grow up to the full size, when, 

 without moisture, they would come to naught ; and it also 

 checks the i avages of the fruit worm. 



But where irrigation is resorted to, care must be taken 

 to lower the water in the ditches by the middle of August, 

 that the vines may be enabled to make a good fall 

 growth. If this is not done, the crop of the coming year 

 may be seriously damaged. The fruit-buds are formed in 

 the fall, and are visible at the ends of the new growth on 

 the upright branches. 



The Management or Improvement of Natural 

 Bogs is worthy of our considoration. James A. Fen wick, 



