Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1861-03-28
TREATMENT THE yIRsr SEASON.

Even If vines have becn vol planted here,
almost universally, begins the first great or
ror, In the total neglect of training Instead
Of cutting back the vine to three eyes, all
that chance TO be on the plant arc permitted
70 Erow, producing by fall masa of small,
weak, unripe shoots, instead of one good,
strong, well matured shoot, as would have
been the case had all Of the power of the
vine been concentrated into single channel
The vino should be cut down to three eyes
or buds although but one shoot should be
permitted to grow the first season, yet it
would not be safe TO cut the vine down to n
single eye, lest by accident that one should
be destroyed. But If all three start and
grow, when they are three inches long the
weakest one may be rubbed of, and, after n
few days, If no accident occurs to the others
tho next weakest one may be removed Tho
second or middle bud generally, is the strong
est and the one most desirable to preserve to
form the vine. The subsequent care through
the season consists in keeping the ground
clean and mellow about the vines, in tieing
the vine to o suitable stake, say every eight
or twelve inches, and in pinching off all the
lateral shoots, that is, the branches that
spring ont OF the foot Of every leaf on the
main stem. As soon as these have formed
three leaves, two Of them should beremoved.
After Q fcw weeks thoy will push again
these should also be pinched off in the same
way, removing two leaves and leaving one.
BY leaving single leaf no injury is done to
the vine, or tho buds Immediately at the
base Of these young shoots.
Ina good season, under this mode Of troat-
msnt thoviAs may DO made to reach the hight
Of ten or twelve feet, Of strong, well matured
wood.
If from any cause tho vine does not make
. strong growth, Of at least eight or ton feet
tho first season, it must be cut back in the
fall 10 three eyes, as in tho case Of the lay
" ct the time Of planting, and the subse-
quent treatment must be tho same as that
OF the first season; and this course must be
repeated until the vine does gain the proper
siie and strength, IL II requires second and
athird year, at the end OF which period the
WINS will be considered as one Of the single
seasons growth. At the beginning Of fall
Il iswell to check the growth Of the vino by
pilching of tho end Of the main shoot, in
or1er TO promote the ripening Of the wood
II the weather be warm and wet, in tho
course Of two weeks II will be well to repeat
this operation by checking the new shoot
that viii put forth.
SECOND YEAR.
The single strong shoot made the first year
should DO cut down during tho fall or winter
70 four buds, only two Of which should bc
allowed, finally, TO grow, tho others being
rubbed of These two shoots should be tied
10 stakes and the laterals pinched out as al.
ssntsd during the first season. If the vine
stsrts strong and vigorously, one, and not TO
sxoee4 two, punches Of grepes may be per-
mitted TO grow; all the other fruit buds
should be removed. Tho autumnal short.
ening Of tho main stems should bo attended
70 u 10 the previous season.
.~.8i THIRD YEAR.
The two shoots made during the second
year ass ready 70 be extended In a horizontal
manner and secured to the newly erected
6ellis. These branches are now termed
ann, and are to be cut back at the same
tine 20 ~ TO leave two good buds or eyes on
each arm, 20 that the upright shoots shall be
eight or ten inches apart, any intermediate
buds must be rubbed of. The four shoots
that are permitted 70 spring from the arms
must be trained to the trellis or wall Tho
summer and fall treatment must be the same
q N the previous seasons.