316 STATE HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY. 



•completed the side of the hole next to the stake will have the appearance of the 

 section of a slightly flattened cone, the outer and deeper part of the hole form- 

 ing nearly a half circle. 



The next thing to he considered is the condition of the young vines as they 

 come from the nursery, and their treatment prior to planting, — and before 

 doing so, will state that I believe good, strong, one-year-old vines from cuttings 

 make a more vigorous growth and more healthy vines than do those of two or 

 three years. And it is my experience that not more than one out of a thousand 

 will fail to grow. 



When young vines arrive from the nursery in the spring they frequently have 

 a dried and shriveled appearance, having been kept in a cellar all winter, and 

 possibly been two or three weeks in transit. From these causes many of the 

 vines become exceedingly dormant and nearly exhausted, therefore requiring 

 immediate care. They should at once be unpacked and placed in a pit, in a slant- 

 ing position head downwards, and well covered with fresh earth, and, as soon 

 thereafter as convenient, should betaken out, a bundle at a time, and thoroughly 

 pruned. When a bundle is taken from the pit the hole should be filled at once 

 with earth, so as to keep the air from injuring those still remaining. The 

 pruning should be done in the cellar, or some equally cool room in an out- 

 building, and a large tub of water kept at hand into which the vines should be 

 thrown after pruning. When the whole bundle has been pruned, they should 

 then be taken from the water and carefully tied up and heeled in until required 

 for planting, making sure that the labels appear plainly above the ground, so 

 that the varieties can be easily distinguished. 



In regard to the necessary pruning of the young vine before planting, I am 

 aware that there is a great diversity of opinion. I will therefore state, that my 

 experience is greatly in favor of what might be termed short pruning, that is 

 to say, cut back the main cane to six or eight inches, and closely remove all 

 side shoots ; then cut the roots back to twelve or fifteen inches, carefully 

 removing all broken or injured roots that remain. And if too great a 

 mass of roots exist, some should be entirely removed. This done, the vine is 

 ready for planting. In planting the vine, the hole having already been made 

 and the stake well set, the top of the vine should be brought close up to the 

 stake and two or three inches above the surface, the roots well spread, care 

 being taken that none be allowed to cross. Then throw in an inch or two of 

 fine loose surface earth and pack well down with the hand ; then, if convenient, 

 throw in a shovelful of well rotted compost, or a handful or two of bone-meal, 

 spreading it thoroughly. Fill up the hole nearly level with the surface, tramp- 

 ing in the earth during the process of filling. Secure the label to the stake, 

 and the work is done. 



It might be well to note here, that when plants are taken from the pit for 

 planting in the vineyard they should be kept covered as closely as possible, and 

 a few at a time plunged into a pail of water and taken out as planted. This 

 will greatly assist them in their early struggles for a new existence. 



The next thing in order is the cultivation and care of the young vine during 

 the first year. By the middle of May, or soon thereafter, the ground should 

 be neatly and carefully plowed, throwing the earth away from the vines, and a 

 few days later it should be cross-worked with a three-shovel plow or deep- 

 running cultivator, keeping at least two feet from the grape-stakes ; then hoe 

 around the young plants : — not merely a scraping off of the young growing 

 weeds, but a thorough cultivation with the hoe, and from this time to the 

 middle of August the cultivating and hoeing process should be repeated at least 



