146 
THE VINEYARD. 
To the preparatory and other necessary work, recommended in 
January, to be done in the vineyard, page 48, I again call your 
particular attention^ if it is put off till March, you will then find 
the consequent embarrassment of such neglectj therefore let every 
preparation be made in this, as well as the last month, that the sea- 
son will admit of. 
The beginning of this month will be a good time to cart manure 
into the vineyard; laying it down in the most elevated places pos- 
sible for the ease of wheeling it on barrows down among the rows 
of vines; this ought to be perfectly rotted, and of a quality suited 
to the nature of the soil; well rotted cow dung is the best manure 
for ground of a very hot nature, but, if very cold or stiff, which 
ought to be as much avoided as possible in the planting of a vine- 
yard, it may be improved by well rotted horse dung or street dirt; 
when these cannot be had, any kind of well incorporated rich 
compost or other manure may be used. 
If the vineyard be on the declivity of a hill, and your vines 
are not more than one, two, or three years old, scatter a good 
shovelfuU or two of this manure principally on the upper side of 
each plant, observing that none of it reaches within six inches of 
the stem; for if placed close thereto slugs, worms, and the embryos 
of various insects, so frequently found in dung and other manure, 
would take shelter about the stock, penetrate down along its roots, 
and might materially injure it at a future period. But when these., 
are exposed, without the advantage of this pi'otection, to the 
severe frosts of the season, the greater number of them will be de- 
stroyed thereby. 
The manure so placed its nutritive parts will be washed down by 
rains, and the whole, by the necessary culture, will ultimately be 
brought to the roots of the plants. When the vineyard happens to 
be on level ground scatter the manure as above, equally around 
the plants. 
If your vines are four years old or more, let it be cast all over 
the ground, as by this time the roots will be extended to a considera- 
ble distance in every direction and prepared to receive nourishment 
at all points. 
Pruning of Vines in the Vineyard. 
In the middle states the last week of this month will be an ex- 
cellent time to prune vines, unless it should happen to be extreme- 
ly severe; in which case it will be better to defer the pruning for 
a few days longer, but on no account later than the first week in 
March, which latter period will be a good time to commence that 
business in the eastern states, allowing there the same latitude in 
