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

GlOst hl til0 s'tiuc tlHO AChnofS ia "SuN'J
and useless growths. Any young side
shoots growing ont of the main ones should
ho nippcd off at their first appearance, and
the tops Of the bearing-spurs some three
leaves above the fruit.
| The leaves are by no means to he stripped
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
, ,,yowth, and to afford the branches Of grapes
IL greater negree Of .nourishment; but this
must not he done too close to the fruit, as it
Will check the free flow of the sap into
those branches. Such shoots as are intend
cd to be cut down in the pruning season
for next years fruiting are by means to
he topped, but should be permitted to grow
Mt full length, taking care to keep them di-
vested Of any side branches.
In order to have well-formed trellises,
wall-vines, &c, train the two first good
shoots produced BY the plant horizontally,
ono 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.
| 1Nc IISt )CdI tuOEc aIulS uluSl Dc ue-
prived only of the decayed wood at the
oxtremities, and of any secondary shoots
proceeding from the axilas 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
cording 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 as 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
,undncss 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 for the next years
hearing. as those left to bear this season
must be cut down next, in order to produce
n succession Of young wood; and thus con-
tirue in their management from year to
year.
I? old vines have been neglected, and have
q great quantity Of naked wood, cut them
down near to the ground. BY this treat
mcnt they will not fail to produce Q plenty
of young wood, which can be trained
as YOU wish, but there will be no fruit that
year. Or you may cut every otkcr 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-vincs, the
shade being as much an object as the fruit,
train them so az to cover the place hand
Fomcly, and ut the same time to produce re
much and NJ good fruit as possible. Do
not permit the leading branches or shoots
TO crowd together, but spread them out
evenly over the whole structure. This is
- be done hy judicious pruning and care
tul training, keeping i'll mind the preceding
general directions.
ST0CE-TEAINING AND PRUNING.
As the prcsen: mode Of training vines in
VINEYARDS IL laborious, requires time, and
i; quite expensive, Il would be very dcSira-
iIe il q more economical method Of man
&ring the vine could he discovered. Mr..
Flagr has described in bis work on Euro
rGan Vineyards q Plan adopted by soTs!c Of
Inc French cultivators of the grapevine,
which deserves attention. and rs this book
may not be IL the possession Of every one.
| take the liberty OF condens;ng his de-
:cription oG the method
After the ground is properly prepared,
the plants are put in tive feet apart :;
rooted plants or cuttings are used :;
where the soil is not too dry, cuttings are
preferred. The cuttings should be taken
jroln fruit branch of the preceding year
that has borne fruit, and from 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 plant
lug. This need not be done if the ground
has been moiatened by recent rains, or if
the planting is done 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-
trating 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 trench at m angle Of Is
degrees, and cover the lower half with
earth, OF, if not planted so early, ditch
two feet deep is dug, and the bottom Of it
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 u 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 i'll q nine-inch peg at
each point. At the side Of each peg dig Il
hole measuring twelve inches every way,
and 80 close up to the peg that it 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 it's
place, with the lower end to 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-inch
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 are left, which will give q stock
of about eight inches, but if the soil is dry
leave hut two eyes, which gives stock Of
from four to six inches. The longer stock
requires a small stake for its support until
it can support itself. The ground must be
worked three times the first season, for no
weeds arc allowed to grow. At the second
ploughing of tho second year, remove the
earth from the plants go as to leave each
row Standing in a shallow trench, wi. u is