Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-12-01
How to Plant and Cultivate the
Vine.
II.

Vine.
From the first year after plant
ing vineyard care should be had
to prune it. Only one fruit-bear.
lag bud, and the straightest and
strongest, should be left on the
vine on the first year. Ga the sec
ond year two fruit.bearing buds
should be left, and il the vine ID
not very strong, only one. The
fruit-beariDg buds should be in
creased as the vine grows in age
aud strengthening care to leave
three branches on the vine, and
those the straightest possible. The
branches should be so pruned that
they should grow to the outward,
30 that the grapes will not grow in
the center, because it is then diff
cult to gather the grape without
hurting 1t against the branches and
losing some Of them. The grape.
vine, like every other fruit be caring
plant, bears more one year than
another. The primer should be
careful ON the bad year to leave
only two fruit-bearing buds. If
the year promises to be a fruitful
one, more buds should be left, and
If they are small the number
should be Increased tethree. Prun-
ing neither too short nor too long
Is the best. as the long pruning
and many buds produce too many
branches anfleaves, and although
it produces more clusters of GRAPES.
the quality is bad, and the prunir q
is harder and dearer.
Care should be had that the
pruning instrument should be
very sharp, az otherwise it bruises
the bud and renders it fruitless.
The cut should not he towards the
bud, as the sap or fluid that falls
from the cut destroys the bud If it
touches it. All dry buds or buttons
should be destroyed on the vine, as
they retard It's growth and devel.
Opment. The irrigation Of the
vineyard depends pom the climate,
situation and soil. II the soil is
good and moist 1t needs no irriga-
tion, but emily good cultivation. II it
is heavy and porous, one irrigation
is ample; if thin, dry or cloudy, 1t
will be necessary to irrigate twice
year. II the year is dry, 1t is well
to irrigate the vineyard before the
first pioughing. The prudent vine.
yardist will have care that the
vineyard should always have and
retain sufficient moisture, and
should watch constantly his vines
so as to keep them healthy and
vigorous, locking always more to
the quality of the grape to be pro.
duced rather than the quantity.
The soil should not be too dry at
the time the vines begin to bloom,
for then the blossoms perish or are
liable to be killed by the fog. II
the soil is allowed to be too dry at
the time the grapes begin to ripen,
the result will surely be fatal to
.wine-making cut of that grape.
On the other hand, the vine
should not have too much water.
Water too plenty is what blood 10
to the human body. Not too
much. and yet enough, is the hap
py medium.
In grating the vine that Ia DAM
aged or fruitIess, care should be
had to select thick vines to graft
in. 1t Is better to graft six inches
under the soil; in this manner the
wind does not affect the graft. The
soil should be quite loose around
the graft that it may not retard or
iDjurs its tender growth. The best
time to graft is in the spring after
the frosts have passed. In select
Ing the graft choose those vine
sheots that are round and solid and
which have the buttons or buds
nearer to each other. It should
have three buds or four. You can
not make more than two gratis
from yine-shoot, because after
the first seven buds or buttons the
rest of the vine-shoot Is worthless.
When you cat the graft, for the
purpose of grating, the lower or
cut part should be protected from
the air. Then you will saw off the
old Woo even, and at the time
when it wants to sprout. Should
you wish to put two gratis, place
the other on q slanting incieion
near the top OF the old " God. Care
should be had not to touch the
heart Of the old wood In making
the incision. In making the cut
for grating the two woods must
close nicely so as TO leave the sap
undisturbed and in vigor for the
graft. The old wood should be de-
spoiled of any sprout or buds, be.
cause these detract from the vigor
of the graft Should the graft be
made above the ground, care
should be had to loosen the strings
or cloth which have kept the graft
IN position; this should be done In
May or little later, so as to give
the vine o chance to expand and
grow easy. The new vine should
be supported, SO that 1t may grow
straight. Weeds should not be al
lowed near the new growth.
Should the frost affect the vines
you must prune short. When the
leaf of the vine turns red you can
tell it ia diseased. There are many
ways OF threading the diseased vine.
The easiest 10 to cut the vine on o
level with the ground, covering 1t
with manure, and as 1t grows hav.
ing care TO take off the weak buds,
leaving the most healthy.