102 
AMERICAN" AG-RICULTURIST. 
PtfAKCH, 
Notes on Grapes and Grape Culture. 
Pots vs. Broad Bortkrs. — Last August we set 
forth, as fairly as we could, the advautages which 
the advocates of border culture claim for their 
Fig. 1. 
method of growiug youug vines, aud in Janua- 
ry last, "A Nurserj'niau" presented the case for 
the advocates of pot culture. These two arti- 
cles have called forth several others, whicli, as 
they are only re-asserlions of f n-iuer statements, 
we are obliged to decline publishing. What is 
wanted now, is the results of aetunl experience 
with both kinds of vines in the vineyard, in tlie 
same soil, and under the same treatment. 
A Neat Garden Trellis. — A correspondent, 
"N. C. C," at Dracut, Mass., makes a very neat 
and diu'able trellis by the use of old steam or 
gas pipe, \i inch in diameter. He buys second- 
hand pipe at a cheap rate, and inserts pieces nf 
proper length in large stones bedded for the 
purpose. A hole of the proper size is drilled in 
the stone, and the pipe cemented in by mcaus of 
melted brimstone. Holes about a foot apart are 
drilled in tlie pipe to i-eceive telegraph wire 
which runs from post to post. Mr. C. wishes to 
know if such a trellis would be safe near the 
house, as some of his neighbors tell him that 
there is danger from lightniug on account of it. 
Wc should say it is perfectly safe, and not half so 
dangerous as the jiartly insulated tin roofs which 
probably some of them have on their houses. 
Training vpon Arbors. — While the practice 
of growiug vines itpou arbors is not to be com- 
mended as the best, yet there are many instan- 
ces where the foliage is desirable as a screen, and 
it is often wished to cover the naked side of a 
building with a vine. When vines are grown 
in such places, they generally produce but a mod- 
erate quantity of inferior fruit, and if neglected, 
soon become a matted mass of weak shoots. 
By beginning right, aud judiciously pruuing 
each year, the vine may be made both to serve 
as a screen and give a fair amount of fruit. To 
effect this, Mr. Husmann, the distinguished 
vineyardist of Hermaun, Mo., gives a very good 
plan: Tiie first step is to get a strong vine: 
plant it in rich soil, aud grow but a single cane 
the first year. This is in autumn cut back to 
three buds, each of which will throw out a. 
strong shoot the second spring, and in the fol- 
lovi'ing autumn will present the appearance of 
fig. 1. These three canes are to be pruned, leav- 
ing three buds upon each, as indicated by the 
cross-lines. The third year, 9 strong canes will 
grow, and at the close of that year the vine will 
be in the condition represented in fig. 2. There 
are now three principal divisious or branches, 
each of which bears three canes. The pruning 
at the close of the third year is done at the 
points indicated by the cross-lines. One of 
each of these three cauesis cut back to two eyes; 
the other two are shortened, according to their 
strength, nu-l tied up. The fourth suninier the 
buds from the canes which were severely short- 
ened, will produce strong shoots to continue the 
spreading of the vine, while the buds upon the 
hmg canes will produce numerous side branch- 
es, which, during the summer, must be kept tied 
in and evenly spread over the trellis. At the 
end of the fourth year, the appearance will be 
Fig. 3. 
like that of fig. 3, which, to save ^^jii ujws 
onl)- half of the vino. In pruning at this time, 
the growth of the season is cut back to one, 
two, or five eyes, the weakest branches being- 
cut back the most. By the use of judgment 
in pruning and supplying the vine with plenty 
of nourishment, a large space may be kept cov- 
ered witli new and healthy wood, which will 
give a dense sheet of foliage, aud.at the same 
time a supply of fruit, tliougU of a quality infe- 
rior to that from vines grown expressly for fruit. 
The Rot. — The disease which isknown as the 
grape rot, has proved thus far more untractable 
than the mildew. Sohie have ascribed it to an 
unhealthj' condition of the root of the vine. 
Tills would seem to be Doct. Schroeder's view 
of the matter, and he proposes, in a communi- 
cation which we print elsewhere, aconstant re- 
newal of the root by layering. Doct. S. is a 
great entluisiast in grape-culture, and being an 
extensive cidtivator, every thing that he writes 
will be sure to command general attention. 
The Fniitgroicen' Sonety of Western New 
York took a vote u.pon the best varieties of 
hardy grapes. Thirty-one persons voted, and 
those grapes which had over ten votes were, 
in the order of the number of votes they re- 
ceived, as follows : Delaware, Diajia, Isabella, 
Hartford Prolific, Concord, Creveling. 
Do You Have Salsify? 
— • — 
"How many of the readers of tlu; Agricultur- 
ist know Salsify bj* sight, and how many, or 
ratlier how few of them have it in tlieir gar- 
dens?" — "I wonder if potatoes aud turnips were 
as long in making themselves popular as are 
Salsify, Caulillower, Savoys and other good 
things." — "Why don't you tell people what a 
nice vegetable it is ?" was a part of the talk 
over some delicious salsifjf . \^" , , ,y 
soup. Wc have had some- r ,\\\ tiUVi/ 
thing to sa}- about (bis vege- 
table, and now figure it, so 
that our read<;rs may know 
wh.at it is like. It is one 
of the few articles of food 
furnished by the great fam- 
ily of Coinpositae. It is a 
bieunial, with narrow leaves, 
and produces the second 
year a solitary flower on a 
stem 2 or 3 feet high. The 
flower is shaped somewhat 
like that of the Dandelion, 
but is purplish. The seeds 
are nearly an inch long, rib. 
bed, and are not to be re- 
lied upon after they are two 
years old. Tlic treatment is 
the same as for Parsnips. 
Sow in 3Iay, in drills 15 
inches apart, and thin to 4 
or 5 inches in the row. The 
usual size of the roots is 
about a foot long and an inch 
in diameter, but larger ones 
may be had in a rich mel- 
low soil. The roots may be 
used whenever they are large 
enough. Sufficient for use 
during the time the ground 
is frozen, may be taken u]) 
aud buried in the cellar; it 
will keep in the ground in salsify. 
the same manner as a parsnip, and is fit for 
use in spring until the flower-stalk commeuces 
to i^ush. This plant unfortunately has re- 
ceived the name of oyster iilanl, or vegetable 
oystei', whicli doubtless prejudices many against 
its use. As singular as it may seem to those 
livingnear the sea, there are m.anypersons away 
from the points where oysters are common, who 
look upon them with aversiou. It is not neces- 
sary to compare salsify with an}"thing else, for 
to our notion it is good enough in itself, and 
jirobably any one fond of jiarsnips, and many 
who are not, would esteem this as a valuable 
addition to their variety of vegetables. 
The Hepatica or Liver-leaf. 
The disappearance of the snow is the signal 
for the true lover of nature to commence his 
rambles in the woods. He does not wait for 
the trees to be in leaf, for he knows that there 
will be an aliundance to interest those who 
have appreciative eyes — even though to the 
dull observer the woods still appear wintry. 
/ 
