The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-01-04

leaves above the fruit.
The leaves are by no means to be gtripped
from their branches; they are absolutely
necessary for the growth and perfection of
the fruit. Continue to nip off the renewed
eXtremities of the fruit-bearing shoots to
check the too great luxuriance of their
Growth, and to afford the branches Of cranes
Il greater negrce Of nourishment; hut this
must not he done too close to the fruit, ne it
VIII check the free flow of the sap into
those branches. Such shoots az are intend
cd to be cut down in the pruning season
Tor next years fruiting are by means to
be topped, but should be permitted to grow
Mt full length, taking care to keep them d.
vested of any side branches.
In order TO have wcll-formed trellises,
wall-vlnes, &c, train the two first good
shoots produced by the plant horizontally,
one on each side within one foot, or two feet,
from the ground, and continue the arms in
that direction from year to year, to what
ever extent may be thought desirable.
The first year these arms must be de-
prived only of the decayed wood at the
extremities, and of any secondary shoots
proceeding from the axillas of the leaves,
unless they have run to tho desired extent.
The second year they will produce shoots
from the joints, which are to be trained ac-
corling to fancy, at the distance of about
twelve inches from each other. The third
year head each of them down to one good
bud, and train Us directed. The fourth
and each succeeding year select the strong
est shoots-say every third one-and head
them down to from ten totwenty buds each,
more or less, according to the strength OF
the mother plant, richness Of the soil, and
blindness of the wood. Never leave wood
lot sound; for such seldom bears fruit.
rhe other shoots arc to be headed down to
one or two good buds each, which are to
produce young wood fer the next years
bearing. as thoee left to bear this season
must be cut down next, in order to produce
succession Of young wood; and thus con-
! tinue in their management from year to
| year.
l. old vines have been neglected, and have
great quantity Of naked wood cut them
down near to the ground. BY this treat
ment they will not fail to produce . plenty
of young wood, which can be trained
as YOU wish, but there will be no fruit that
year. Or you may cut every other branch,
leaving the old ones to produce fruit that
season these must be cut out the next year
in order to produce young wood and we'll
furnished tree.
In forming arhors of grapc-vncs, the
shade being as much an object as the fruit,
| train them 80 az to cover the place hand
Eomcly. and ut the same time to produce as
much and az good fruit as possible. Do
not permit the leading branches or shoots
10 crowd together, but spread them out
evenly over the whole structure. This is
- be done by judicious pruning and care
iul training, keeping in mind the preceding
general directions.
! Sr0CE-yEAISING AID PRUNING.
| As the prcscn: mode Of training vines in
VINEYARDS Is laborious, requires time, and
! is quite expensive, it would be very dcsira-
! lie If more economical method Of man
aging the vine could he discovered. Mr..
! FIare has described in his work on Euro
pcan Vineyards q plan adopted by some Of
lhc French cultiva;ors Of the grapevine,
! which deserves attention. and az this book
nay not be in the possession Of every one,
! take the liberty OF condcnsing his de-
scription Of the method
After the ground is properly prepared,
The plants are put in five feet apart /;
rooted plants or cuttings are used !:
where the soil is not too dry, cuttings are
preferred. The cuttings should be taken
from fruit branch of the preceding year
that has borne fruit, and from q healthy
plant Of full age. If you plant in the carly
part OF winter, soak the lower eight inches
OF the cuttings for one week before plaEt-
ing. This need not be done if the ground
las been moistened by recent rains, or II
the planting is dole in the spring. Before
setting out, scrape the bark of the cuttings
here and there between the eyes for eight
inches of the lower portion, the knife peue-
tratiug to the inner bark. Under good cir
cumstances, cuttings thus prepared, and
which were planted as soon as cut from the
vine, the failures have been known to
amount to only two per cent.
In Medoc, If cuttings arc planted before
their buds expand they are prepared by
setting them in q trench ut an angle Of ~
degrees, and cover the lower half with
earth, or, if not planted SO early, ditch
two feet deep is dug, and the bottom Of it
covered with eight inches of loose earth, on
the eight inches of loose earth the cuttings
are horizontally placed. and separated from
each other by sprinkling in more loose
earth, and complete the operation by o
covering of eight inches of earth, which fills
up the trench.
Another plan is to bury the cuttings
in perpendicular trench, points down
wards and butts upwards, and cover with
two inches of earth.
After selecting the places to be occupied
| by the stocks, drive in nine-lnch peg at
each point. At the side of each peg dig
hole measuring twelve inches every way,
and so close up to the peg that 1t appears
midway in the side of the hole.
The bottom OF the hole is covered with
two inches of surface soil. The peg is now
removed, the plant or cutting taking its
place, with the lower end 10 the length OF
two joints, including two eyes, covered to
an angle Of forty-iive degrees, the base
penetrating to the bottom OF the two-lnch
| layer Of loose soil. Now fill the hole with
surface soil, and pack down.
At The proper time that portion which
shows itself above ground is cut down to
two or three eyes. If the soil is damp,
three eyes arc left, which will give stock
of about eight inches, but if the soil is dry
| leave but two eyes, which gives q stock Of
from four to six inches. The longer stock
requires small stake for its support until
it can support itself. The ground must he
worked three times the first season, for no
weeds are allowed to grow. At the second
ploughing of the second year, remove the
earth from the plants go as to leave each
row standing in shallow trench, Which is
not closed until early in May. This allows
the suckers to be removed, as they prevent
the forming of q good stock" which is
done before the trenches are filed, and ut
which times the smokers are about twelve