ON MANURE. 



319 



vine, which may be said to renew its youth every year/' 

 In fact, it recommends itself by simplicity — by the small 

 number of wounds annually made — by the clear and hand- 

 some appearance of the vine, and by the great ease with which 

 it is managed — its occupying but a small space. We there- 

 fore conclude this subject with the following few general rules : 

 Use a knife of the best description, and let it be perfectly 

 sharp; cut always upward and in a sloping direction; always 

 leave about an inch of blank wood beyond a terminal bud, 

 and let the cut be on the opposite side of the bud. In pruning 

 out an old branch, cut it even with the parent limb, that the 

 wound may quickly heal. Never prune in frosty weather, 

 nor in the months of March, April, or May. Let the general 

 fall pruning take place about the end of October or first of 

 November ; after which, stir up the ground, and let a good 

 coating of fresh stable manure be laid thereon, which will both 

 protect the roots that are near the surface, and also' enrich 

 the soil ; but if stable manure cannot be procured, leaves from 

 the woods are an excellent substitute, which, after decompo- 

 sition, form a vegetable manure very enriching, and one very 

 congenial to the vine ; this being done, nothing more is re- 

 quired till the first of March, when the roughest must be 

 removed, and the decomposed particles forked into the borders. 

 It may be proper to state that in more northern latitudes and 

 greater altitudes than Philadelphia, it will be necessary to lay 

 down the vines after pruning during winter, and give them 

 a light covering of litter, straw, leaves, or mats, which will 

 completely protect them from the severest frost ; although it 

 is not altogether the severity that destroys, but the alternate 

 frost and sun acting on the plant every twenty-four hours, 

 which overcomes the vitality of the plant ; and another fell- 

 destroyer is when we have a mild February and a severe 

 March. When such occurs, which is but rarely, the vines 

 must all be protected by mats while there is danger. 



ON MANURE. 



This subject has been very recently indulged in to a de- 

 structive extent. We could record instances of soils strongly 

 impregnated with very enriching manures being almost death 

 to the plant; very rich soils are adhesive and retentive of 



