SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
.284 
and accurate data, before we can obtain a fu!! knowledge 
of its history, and be enabled then to use the proper means 
for destroying or lessening this pest to our fruil orchard. 
IwautRER. 
N. B. -Whilst upon this subject, I would ask for infor- 
mation of the habits of the Peach Borer, j^geria exitiosa, 
say. At what season here in our latitude, it deposits its 
eggs'? Where it passes the pupa slate'? and other facts 
connected with its habits which may enlighten us as to 
the most effectual mode of destroying them. With the ex- 
tension of orchard culture, these are becoming important 
and interesting questions to us ; and we invite informa- 
tion from all who are able to give it. 
B. 0 MARKS. — The different species of insects arc almost as 
mumerous as the plants upon which they feed, and Ento- 
mology has not yet been studied to such an extent as it 
deserves. Even Dr. Harris, who is acknowledged to 
be the very best American authority, treats of the Curcu- 
iio only in general terms, and wm can scarce be expected 
to satisfactorily answer questions which are problems, not 
yet solved by any professional Entnviologist. 
Our correspondent says that the Curcuiio is also found 
in the late October peaches ; but does he actually know it 
to be the true Curcuiio'? 
Our esteemed friend, “Inquirer.” is known to us as a 
-•scientific and close observer, whose habits of investigation 
and opportunities are such as eminently fit him for study- 
ing the nature of the Curcuiio in ail its transformations. 
May we not hope, that he, for the benefit of all lovers of 
fruit, will undertake the work, and publish the results'? 
We shall also, be happy to open our columns to all who 
possess information on this or kindred subjects. Down- 
iXG’s works, Barry’s “Fruit Garden,” White’s “Garden- 
ing for the South,” &c., contain much that has a bearing 
upon the question, but notiiing that may be considered 
specific or satisfactory, especially to the orchardist or 
fruit-grov/eron a large scale. See Patent Office reports for 
1854, pp. 81, 8.3, for articles on the Curcuiio and Peach 
£orer. A really good and practical treatise on the Insects 
injurious to cultivated plants, and the best method of 
destroying or guarding again.st them, is yet to be written. 
Who will undertake the task'? — Eds. 
THE GRAPE CUETERE. 
“ Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging, and v/hoso- 
ever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Nevertheless, the 
moderate use of wune is not prohibifed in scripture — and 
It is generally conceded that the inhabitants of wane coun- 
tries are more temperate than those who live in the higher 
latitudes; in Ru-isia, for instance, men eat tallow and 
swallow pure brandy ! It is probable that in less than a 
quarter of a century from this time, wine will supercede 
in a great measure, the use of ardent spirits in this 
country. 
The first thing to be observed in establishing a Vine- 
yard is to select tlie best possible locality on the premises 
for ihnl purpose. The crown of a hill siauting gradbaiiy 
to the Semh and inclining E?st, is the best position ; 
.avoiding, if possible, due East, North or West — protec- 
tion bv trees or building on the cold sides, if out of the 
range of shading the vineyard, is desirable. In middle j 
and lower Georgia, .all these precaufious are not so essen- j 
tial as in higher iaiitudes and altitudes. 
As to soil, if it be somewhat sioay it is no objection.; 
very stiff clay is not as well adapted to the vine as mu- 
lato or good grey land. One acre of ground is as much as 
anyl one aught to undertake to cultivate at first, particu- 
larly if the German plan is to be adopted, -and this ap- 
pears from the success in Ohio, to be the best mode cf cul- 
tivating the vine. 
When the ground is cleared of stumps and roots let it 
be close plowed with a long scooter or coulter, and suf- 
fered to remain several weeks ; after a rain plovv it again 
with a large turning plow as deep as possible — then let 
the ground remain two weelfs, or till a good rain occurs. 
Then lay off the ground by a line in rows funning due 
South and North, fivefeet apart, cross these lines due East 
and West four feet wide and plant the vines or cuttings at 
the intersection of the rows, which will be four feet by 
five. This mode, however, is not considered to be as 
perfect and durable as spading the ground throughout the' 
entire plat; the spading may he performed in this way ; 
after the ground has been prepared as above stated by the 
plow, commence spading at the first narrow row, ‘spade 
all the ground from the first to the second line, throwing 
all the surface soil on one side, and the subsoil on the 
other, until the spading reaches to the depth of three 
feet ; then throw the surface soil at the bottom of the ditch 
and the subsoil on the top — and thus proceed from row 
to row until all the ground is dug through. This is a 
tedious and expensive operation, but it has been found 
from experience that.it gives more permanency to the 
vines, and renders them less liable to disease, and less af- 
fected by the vicissitudes of heat, cold and moisture — and 
doubtless, vines thus set, and properly cultivated, will 
live a century. By the old careless cultivation they have 
been known to live thirty-five to forty years. 
After the land has been well spaded as above stated, it 
must be laid off into lines running due North and South 
five feet apart, and from East to West, lines four feet apart. 
If any stones have been dug out of the ground they 
should be piled across the hill sides where the greatest 
descent occurs, so as to prevent the land from washing. 
The ground must then be staked off at the intersectioa of 
the lines (4 by 5) and planted with one or two cuttings 
(2 is preferable) on the south side of every stake. 4'he pro- 
per way to insert the cuttings in the ground is to procure a 
hickory pole five feet long and about two aud a half in- 
ches in diameter, sharpen it at the smaller and lower end, 
and bore a hole at 2 feet from the losver end, and drive a 
strong pin into it — or if the pole has a branch at the pro- 
per distance, cut it off and leave four inches of it to the 
stem — with this pole make holes in the ground by push- 
ing it in with the foot applied to the pin or branch ; then 
insert the cutting about eighteen or twenty inches in to 
the ground in a position nearly perpendicular, leaving only 
one eye out of the ground — hold tlie cutting by the left 
hand, and with the other, pour into the hole manure pre- 
viously prepared and press it with a stick or the hand 
gently to the cutting — deep planting insures in a measure 
success in taking root The cuttings should be moderate- 
ly watered soon af er they are planted — if both cuttings 
live one of them must be removed the following or the 
third year to fill missing places in the vineyartl. Select 
a piece of grouiid 1 5 by 50 feet or more^ (a level o r rather 
moi.jt spot is desirable) and set it with grape cu'iings in 
rows three feet apart and eighteen inches in the drill as a 
nursery to supply deficiencies in the vineyard. Cuttings 
from young vigorous vines of three to five years old are 
preferable to older ones, and those cuttings having short 
joints are better than those that have long orics ; the nur- 
sery should be planted the year previous to setting out the. 
vineyard. 
Vines with a smooth hark, such as Muscadine and 
Scuppernopg, should be ’trimn>ed early in the fall, soom 
alter the dropping of the leaf, say from the middle to the 
