Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1853-12-17

rapid multiplication. Aey sHOAlu De
cut late in the fall or early in winter, and
preserved in moist place until they are
required. In the spring cut off eacA end
near a bud or eve, leaving the slip about
a foot long, and plant sIoping in rich
moist soil-the lower end and the upper
end buried respectively about four inches
and one inch; by the ensuing spring II
will have produced vine foot or more
long. Prepare The spot where You pur-
pose planting the vine, by enrlchlng II
with woods earth and well roucd ma
.nure-set the plant about as deep IN the
ground as you found it-spread out the
Irools--coyer within two or three inches
of the top, fill up with water, and when
that has subsidized, fill the space even with
the surrounding surlace--any soil that
will produce vigorous stock of Indian
corn, Will produce grapes. The labor of
planting vine is light, and the time will
occupy not more than half an hour. As
soon as the "eyes" or buds have grown a
few inches, the strongest one must be Sc
lected TO form the Vine, and the others
rubbed off with the hand, as the vine
grows rub off all lateral "eyes," " "buds,
or "shoots" and train the vine perpcn-
dicularly to the required height--in this
WY it may be reared to the top of your
house if you choose; when the required
! height is attained, select one ortwo eyes
or shoots on each side--np off the per-
pendicular growth with your finger and
thumb, and then train the lateral shoots to
the right and left, as far as may be requir.
C ], until the fall terminates their growth,
this growth will the next year produce
several bunches Of grapes, and increase in
quantity and quality, each succeeding
year, if regularly attended 10, and manu-
red each spring.
AS the vine grows little, care is neces-
saly--of course you will walk in your
yard or garden every morning and even
ing, if not at noon. You will look at
your vine, because you take pleasure in
observing its progress, and because every
person watches with interest the result Of
an experiment. If a bud starts in place
where YOU do not wish your vine TO
broach, you rub it off. When the broach
You wish to grow has attained lis length
you nip off the end with your finger and
thumb. If worm or caterpillar has IN
ruded itself on the leaves, YOU soon
crush it beneath your foot, and all this is
but few moments amusement, and Is ei-
fected while you take your daily stroll in
your garden or yard, with your children
pratllng around you, and while you would
be doing nothing, or worst than nc-hing--
talking politics with your neighbor; but as
. light aud trihing as it seems to be it is cs-
senGal to the proper training of your vine
and the realization Of full crop. THUS
by an hours amusement in the course Of
each year, you will have secured as many
grapes as your family can consume, be-
sides an occasional basketto the sick, and
some less proyident neighbor.
To persons who have sufficient ground
for the cultivation Of variety, the ISABEL
la, CataJa, and BLnd-whIch are ma
tive grapes, will be found to combine all
the necessary qualities. The Black
HamJ1rg and Black PrGce are foreign
varieties, and if the vines are taken down
in the fall, laid upon corn stalks, and Gov
cred foot deep with corn shucks, they
will resist our winter trosl>, and richly
repay the labour. The Isabella however,
is the only one that should be cultivated
by persons who have not an anla for more
than one or two vines. The native vine
resist the severity Of our winters, and re-
quire no protection from frost or freezing.
PRUNING.-There has been a mystery
attempted to be thrown around this simple
process. The wood produced one year
will bear fruit the two succeeding years,
and all that is necessary, is to see that a
Sutficency, and not too much, new wood
is produced every year, to supply you
with fruit. The branches Of each years
growth which put out from the main stems
should be cut off in the early part of Feb
ruary-betore the sap begins 10 rUn-lea-
wing eight or ten eyes or buds, and each
year new wood should De allowed to grow,
in sufficient quantity for the production of
as many punches as the zine can nourish
and sustain. If too many punches should
put cut, thin them and those left on the
vine will become larger and finer for the
reduction,
Grapes may be preserved on the vine,
until the weather becomes freezing, by
simply giving 10 the stem Of The bunch
twist and pinch so as to arrest the circula-
ton ofthe sap in the stem, but not to sever
it. Then draw paper bag over the
bunch and tie it around the stem. By
this method you can allow the grapes so
protected TO remain on the vine, until there
is danger of their freezing, when If you
wish TO preserve them for the winter, clip
off The punches with pair of scissors, and