PREFACE. Im following work has been undertaken, not so much in the hope of adding anything new to what h already known of the culture of the vine, as with a view to colIect the scattered information which exists on the subject in periodicals and kindred works as well as amongst practical men, and to throw it into such a shape as may prove useful to the amateur and the vinedresser. This being our object, we have endeavored to modify and adapt the practice and principles of others to our own climate and wants, and to simplify and explain the processes of the profeessional gardener so that he who reads may practice. To this end we have in general avoided theoretical discussions, and have depended chiefly upon the practice of ourselves and others for the directions here laid down. For although we know that well established principles are the only sure foundation of all right practice, this is not the place for discussing the theoretical grounds upon which these principles rest. A practical work should deal with facts and be a guide to action. As the garden culture of the vine, at least in the northern States, differs from that in the vineyard only in the more thorough preparation of the ground and the larger size of the plants, we have not formally divided the o r iknt o sections corresponding to these two classes, as the principles which govern both are precisely alike. Where, however, some peculiar details of management apply to either we have inserted them in the section to which t. hey properly belong-as under the subject of VINE BORDERS and CARE OF OLD VINES. A full account of the Ohio vineyards is given in the Appendix, amongst other examples of American practice, and the peculiar principles which regulate the management of grapes devoted to the production of wine will be found in their appropriate place, riz., in the second part of this work, which is specially devoted to that subject. The varieties of the vine have multiplied so rapidly of late, thnt it would be impossible to give a coinplete list even of those which have been brought out. Seeing then that at best our work must be incomplete in this respect, we have described those only which have been thoroughly proved and rmom mended by some well known society or cultivator. Of the two or three hundred varieties of American grapes of which names are to be found, probably not more than one in ten ham . been tested in 1ocalit iw diEering greatly from the place of their origin. In the execution of our work, we believe that where we have had occasion to make use of the labors of others, due credit has always been given and we have also added a list of tliose books which we have most freely consulted, so that those who desire to make the culture of the grape . a specialty may be directed to original wurce. s of information. That the culture of the grape will ere long attain a position of which its present condition atiords little idea, we have no doubt...