ON MANURE. • 319 
vine, which may he 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 
