Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-02-03

vor Of the fruit, besides more or less affecting
the health of the leaves. The vineyard should
be kept clear Of weeds by the frequent use Of
the hoe. dressing Of bone meal is one Of
the best manures that can be applied. Air
slaked lime is excellent for sandy soil
Wood ashes should always be used, for the
fruit requires n large amount of potash. Salt
petre and copperas are excellent, but are too
expensive for general use. Superphosphate
is one Of the best things to give young vines
a start that ever used, but do not consider
it prudent to rely on ii to carry the vino through
a succession Of years. There are many kinds
of liquid manure that are good. Sink sops,
if the ground is not kept too wet, are an excel
lent stimuant, and soapsuds has much virtue,
used either on the vine or around its roots !;
but there is nothing in the shape Of liquid
manure that l consider equal to night slops.
If you have a sickly vine, or one that will not
be persuaded to grow, pour your night-slops
about the roots.
PLANTING THE VINE.
There is as great a diversity of opinion
among vineyardists in regard to the best time
to plant as in the various details connected
with the planting. My own rule is to plant
vines in the fall whenever circumstances will
permit but if it is not convenient TO plant
then, do the next best thing-plant them as
curly III lut bDIluk us lLt bOll ID III COuultlOu
to permit. prefer fall planting because the
soil becomes settled about the roots, the
wounds made in the process Of transplanting
will in great measure become healed, and
very often new roots will start before the
ground would permit of the vines being plant
ed in the spring. Thus they are all ready to
commence growing as soon as the frost is out
of the ground. In soils naturally tenacious
and heavy, spring planting is perhaps prefer
able to fall but never put of till another
season that which may safely be done in the
present. Do not plant when the soil is soak
ed with water, nor when it is parched and
dry it should be in that moist and friable
condition which allows it to be easily worked
1t is beneficial to shorten the roots by cutting
them of smoothly before planting especially
if they are long and destitute of branching
fibres. Two feet is long enough to leave any
root on a two-year old vine.
TBELLIsEs.
There are many different opinions in regard
to making trellises, and different varieties re-
require different training. Vines may be
trained in almost any form the owner desires,
the situation having much to do with the mat
ter; but they must always be kept from the
ground.
PRUNING
Pruning is a familiar operation, which we
all know to be necessary to promote fruitful
ness. The law which forbade the Israelites
to gather the grapes Of the first three years
growth is as applicable now as then. Prun-
ing may be commenced as soon as the vine
has shed its leaves in the fall, but in fall or
winter pruning the vines should not be cut
back to the buds that are wanted for fruit
one or two extra ones should be left above
them. Then in the spring, after the buds get
out about an inch, break of the surplus ones,
being careful not TO injure the last years
growth of wood which will cause the sap to
flow. If vines are pruned in autumn down
to the buds that are wanted for fruit canes,
the uppermost buds are very likely to be win
ter killed during our severe Vermont winters.
Summer pruning is very beneficial when prop
erly done.
Never pick the leaves of your vines that
the grapes may ripen sooner; they are neces-
sary TO protect the fruit from the scorching
rays of the sun by day and the cold winds by
night. The vines should be well protected in
winter till they are three years old. Lay them
down before the ground freezes up for the
winter, and cover with dirt then put on
straw, leaves cornstalks-in fact, almost any
thing that will keep the soil from being froz-
en- aud thawed too often, which Injuries the
vine very much. Straw should never be put
next to the vine, mice are very apt to work
in it, and may gnaw the vines.
AIr. Chase closes by urging that every per
son who can do so should cultivate the grape,
and makes the prediction that before the year
1927, which will close the first centurys ex.
perience with our native varieties, we shall
produce grape that will put the fruit of Ital-
ian vineyards TO the blush.