Slimmer Meeting. . 55 



The cuttings should be cut in the fall or early winter. Cut them lo 

 to 12 inches long; at the lower bud they should be cut close to or al- 

 most through the same, as the roots will start easier; from the upper 

 bud you should have about two inches, so the cutting will not dry out 

 so easy. 



Tie the cuttings in bundles of lOO or 200 each ; dig a trench, say 

 12 to 18 inches \vide, 14 to 15 inches deep, having it level at the bottom ; 

 set the bundles in with the lower bud down and if possible so that 

 every cutting stands on the bottom of the ditch or trench, and they 

 will then be moist enough all winter ; cover with soil five or six inches 

 thick. In the spring take them out and set in nursery rows, three to 

 .four inches apart, rows about two and one-half to three feet apart, 

 using only good soil well prepared, and be sure and cultivate through- 

 out the summer. It is just as well to set out in nursery rows in the 

 fall, but usually it is too late when the cutting is done. 



Planting. — We have found it best to plant in the fall, that is if the 

 season is not too dry, but it should not be done too early; the best 

 time is from the middle to the last of November. In planting a vine- 

 yard I w^ould not go to the trouble to dig holes with the spade, as it 

 is usually done, for it can be done in half the time and get much better 

 results by using a team and plow. Plow up a dead furrow as deep as 

 you can, two rounds will do, but three are better, especially if you 

 want the rows far apart, say eight,, nine or ten feet ; then tak^ a cord 

 or string with knots or anything tied to the same every six, seven or 

 eight feet, as 3'ou may wish the vines ; stretch the cord along where 

 A'ou wish the row, giving it the height which the field will have when 

 level. By this cord you will know just where and how deep you have to 

 set the vines. Let one man take a shovel and another the vines in a 

 bucket with some water ; press or trample the soil firmly to the roots, 

 then take one horse and plow and make the field level. If you use 

 manure when planting be sure and see that you don't get it too close 

 to the roots. Planting should not be done when too wet. Cultivate 

 throughout the summer. 



For vineyard select the highest land you have and new ground is 

 the best of all. I have traveled and visited a good many vineyards, and 

 have found that sometimes there is a very great difference in a variety 

 Avithin a short distance; this is, of course, mostly due to the soil. At 

 Hermann the Norton's Virginia Seedling is the most extensively planted ; 

 it does well on almost any soil there. Next is the Jves, which does 

 well on poor soil; then comes the Elvira, which wants a rich soil. 

 I would suggest that everybody should first test his own soil before 

 planting large areas of an}^ variety. 



