The Cecil Whig., 1886-05-01

CONTINUED FROM FIRST rAGE.1
bles more finely; the Young vine becomes
well established and settled in its place
10y spring, and even forms new roots be
fore the growing season begins, and in
eight eases out of ten makes stronger
growth than follows spring planting it is
work accomplished when there is usually
the greatest leisure. If the ground is ready
in early spring, | should advise no delay.
a years growth is gained by setting out
the vines at once. AS "a rule do not ad-
wise late spring planting. that is, after
the buds have started on the young
vines. They may live, but usually they
scarcely no more the first year.
In ordering from nursery | should
ask for vigorous, well-rooted, two year
old vines, and should be almost as well
contented with iirst-class one year olds.
If any one should advertise extra large,
strong vines, ready to bear at once" |
should have nothing to do with him.
That's "A nursery trick to get rid of old
stock. The first year after the shock of
removal vine should not be permitted
to bear at all, and young vigorous vine
is worth a dozen old stunted ones
Having procured the vines keep them
in a cool, moist place until ready TO plant.
Never permit the roots to become dry,
and if some of them are long and naked,
shorten them to two feet, so as to cause
them to throw out side tibrons roots,
which are the true feeders. Excavate holes
of ample size, so that all the roots may be
spread out naturally. If you have rea-
son to think the ground is not very good,
two or three quarts of fine bone-dust
thoroughly mixed with the soil that is
placed on ana about the roots will give a
fine send off. Usually good mulch of
any kind of barn yard manure placed on
the surface after planting will answer all
purposes. Before filling in the hole over
the roots, place beside the vine a stout
stake six or seven feet high. This will
be all the support required the first year.
Cut back the young vine TO three brds,
aud after they get well started, let but
one grow. If the planting is done in the
fall, mound the earth up over the little
vine at the approach of winter SO as to
cover it at leas5 six inches below the sur
face. In spring uncover again as soon az
hard frosts are over, say early April in
our latitude. Slow growing varieties,
like the Delaware, may be set out six
feet apart; strong growers, like the Con
cord, eight feet. Vines cannot be e1-
pected to thrive under the shade of trees,
Or to fight an unequal battle in ground
filled with the roots of any other vegeta-
ton.
Vines may be set out not only in the
garden borders. but also in almost any
place where their roots will not be inter
fered with, and where their foliage will
receive plenty of light and air. How
well remember the old Isabella vines
that clambered on a trells over the kitch-
en- door at my childhood's S home In this
sunny exposure, and in the reflected heat
of the building, the clusters were always
the sweetest and earliest ripe. A ton of
grapes may be secured annuallyby erect
ing trellses against the sides of buildings,
walls and poultry yard, while at the same
slime the screening vines furnish grateful
cI,, do Of
With little petting, such scattered vines
are often enormously productive. An
occasional pail of soapsuds gives them a
drink which eventually ilushes the thick
ly hanging clusters with exquisite color.
People should dismiss from their minds
the usual method OF f Elropean cultivation,
whei Elm the vines are tied to short stakes
and made to produce their fruit near the
ground. This method can be employed
if We htid pleasure III the experiment. At
Mr. Fuller place | saw tine examples Of
it. Stu6by vines With stems thick as
ones wrist rose about three feet from
the ground, then brauched off on every
side, Ike All umbrella, with loads of fruit.
Only one supporting stake was required.
This method evidently is not adapted to
our climate and species of grape, since in
that case plenty of keen, practical fruit
growers would have adopted it. | am
glad this is true for the vine clad hills of
France do not present half SO pleasing
spectacle as an American corn field The
vine is beautiful when grown as a vine
and not as stub, and well-trained, we'll |
fed vines on the home acre can be devel- |
oped TO almost any length required, shad-
ing and hiding with greenery every un-
slightly object, and hanging their finesl
clusters far beyond the reach of the pre-
datory small boy.
We may now consider the vines planted |
aud growing vigorously, as they will in
most instances if they have been prepared |
for and planted according to the sugges-
ticns already given. Now begins the
process Of guiding and assisting Nature.
Left to herself, she will give superabun-
dance of vine, with sufficient fruit for
purposes of propagation and feeding the
birds. Our object is to obtain the maxi
mum Of fruit from minimum of vine.
IFhe little plant, even though grown from
IA single bud, will sprawl over evey thing
near it in three or four years if unchecked.
Pruning can begin even before midsum-
mer Of the first year. The single green
shoot will by this time begin to produce
what are termed laterals. The careful
cultivator who wishes to throw all the
strength and growth int" the main shoot
will pinch these laterals back as soon as
they form one leaf. Each lateral will
start again from the aX:l of the leaf that
has been left, and having formed another
leaf. should again be cut off. BY repeat
ing this process during the growing sea-
son you have strong single cane by fall
reaching probably beyond the top of the
suppor ting stake. In our latitude ad
wise that this single cane-that Is, the
cut back to within fifteen inches
of the surface when the leaves have
fallen ard the wood las we'll ripened, say
about the middle of November, and that
the part left be bent over and covered
with earth. When | say bent over, do
not mean at right angles so as to admit