486 Transactions op the 



with evidences of volcanic debris, is undoubtedly the best. The vast 

 quantities of red lands of the second elevation from our river bottoms, 

 and extending back to the foothills in all portions of the State, are well 

 adapted to the growth of the grape for the table, for raisins, and for wines 

 and brandies, but for the light table wines a more elevated location is 

 deemed preferable. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



Having selected the location, the next step is to prepare tbe soil to 

 receive the vine. Whether the land has been previously cultivated or 

 not, it should be thoroughly cleaned of all roots, trees, or stumps, and 

 well plowed and subsoiled to a depth of from fourteen to eighteen 

 inches the Spring previous to planting. Before planting let it be well 

 plowed again and harrowed and cultivated until thoroughly pulverized, 

 and then when rolled it is ready for marking off for the rows of vines. 

 This process is doue by different cultivators of experience by entirely 

 different modes, and the great question in marking off the land and pre- 

 paring the proper holes for the vines and planting them in straight rows 

 for convenience in after cultivation is, after all, one of economy — the 

 performance of a mechanical operation rather than one of principle, as 

 affecting the future growth and production of the vine. Especially so 

 since all argue as to the necessity of care and thoroughness in the per- 

 formance of eveiy part of the work. All agree that the vines should 

 be planted about six to eight feet apart each way. All agree that the 

 holes should be dug from eighteen to twenty inches deep, and should be 

 at least that number of inches in diameter. All agree that they should 

 be filled with well pulverized surface soil, and that the soil taken from 

 the bottom of the hole in digging should not be returned to the hole for 

 the young vines to start in. All agree that but one bud of the vine or 

 cutting planted should be left above the surface, while some maintain that 

 in ease cuttings are planted instead of rooted vines it is better to cover 

 the top end of the cutting slightly with soil, so as to protect it from the 

 drying winds and hot rays of the sun Avhile making its first efforts at 

 separate and independent life. 



DIFFERENT MODES OF PLANTING. 



Of the several members of your committee, Snyder of Sonoma, Strent- 

 zel, of Contra Costa, Bugbey, of Sacramento, and Chalmers, of El Dorado, 

 lay off the land by any convenient'method — as a small plow — in squares 

 of eight feet each way, and dig the holes at the intersections of these 

 lines to receive the vines or cuttings. Swezy, of Yuba, and Nickeson, 

 of Placer, on the other hand, make trenches eight feet apart across the 

 field one way by running the plow back and forth say three times, turn- 

 ing the furrow out, thus making the team do the greater part of the 

 labor of digging the holes. This being done, they use a long light pole, 

 marked off at intervals of eight feet each, to locate the hills in the other 

 direction, and complete the work of making the hole with the shovel. 

 Having planted the vine and leveled up the land immediately around the 

 same, they, with one horse and small plow, turn the dirt back and fill 

 the trench. 



CUTTINGS AND ROOTED VINES. 



There seems to be a considerable difference of opinion and practice 

 between the different members of your committee, as to whether it is 



