342 WISCONSIN STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
tings. Select, if possible, a moist or cloudy day for removing 
the vines from the nurseries, as their young roots are extremely 
sensitive to the effects of the sun, and immediately after dig¬ 
ging cover with sacking and keep moist till planting. Before 
planting, examine the vines and cut out all bruised or mangled 
roots, and cut the top back to two or three good, plump buds. 
This may seem barbarous, and look like never having fruit, but 
it is necessary to the healthy and rapid growth of the vines. 
Plant six feet apart, either way, and fill in with any good gar¬ 
den compost, not forgetting to have it rich with well rotted ma¬ 
nure. Green or unfermented manure must not be used. Du¬ 
ring the remainder of the season little more is necessary than 
to keep the ground free from weeds and grass for some distance 
around the plants. By the middle of August, pinch off the 
the ends of all the young wood, in order to check its growth 
and help the ripening process. The last of October the vines 
should be again examined, and cut back to three eyes or buds, 
and these should be well covered with coarse manure that will 
not ferment ; or—what I practice and think much better—the 
natural soil should be thrown upon the vines two or three inches 
deep. Covered in this manner, they winter perfectly sound, 
and mice never injure them ; which they will sometimes do, if 
covered with litter. 
The next spring, as vegetation starts, examine a portion of 
your vines, and when the buds are well swollen, or liable to be 
damaged by being longer covered, remove the soil, litter, &c., 
to its place with the spade or three-tined spreading fork. 
Loosen the earth six or eight inches deep, and as many feet 
around the vine, and at the same time work in a coating of one 
or two inches of wood ashes, spread upon the surface. 
As the vines advance in growth, keep them supported upon 
temporary stakes, and pinch off all laterals, (small side shoots, 
issuing from the base of the leaves); and if the three buds left 
at the last pruning all start to grow, rub off the weakest one. 
By the middle of August the other two canes will have extend¬ 
ed about eight feet, when, pinch off the ends of them, and let 
