Winter Meeting. 311 



be much easier worked for so many years to come more than paying 

 for little extra time spent in getting them just so. 



2. Space. There is considerable difference in ideas, and should 

 be governed by the way of trimming and care, one can give his vine- 

 yard. As a matter of course a vineyard planted close will wear out 

 the ground sooner than one planted farther. If the growers can and 

 will fertilize his vineyard he will realize more per acre than by plant- 

 ing more distant. The time required to apply manure will not be 

 any greater than the extra time required to cultivate the same amount 

 of grapevines on a larger piece of land. 



To draw a line on distance of planting, I would call four by seven 

 feet close and seven by eight feet far. Six by seven feet is a good 

 medium distance to plant with an occasional wider row to drive through, 

 if same is desirable. 



3. Planting. In most cases a strong one-year-old plant is pref- 

 erable to a two-year-old or older. Trim plant shoots off except one 

 and leave two or three eyes, as the best sprouts will grow from the 

 crown of original cutting. Spread roots well, roots may be shortened 

 a little just before planting. Get mellow topsoil to the roots, and 

 tramp very light. A convenient number of plants should be carried 

 along in a bucket of water, taking out one at a time, this will cause 

 ground to stick to roots no watering required. It is well to set a small 

 stick with each plant thus marking the row. 



4. Cultivation. The first two years great care must be taken 

 not to cover the young plants for they are very easy smothered or 

 broken with a lump of dirt. After vines are older and stronger cul- 

 tivating must be so done as to save hand labor. By covering the first 

 crop of weeds with a turning or worn twelve-inch plow, next crop of 

 weeds can be destroyed with cultivator or plowing away from row. 

 The ridge left in the row must then be scraped down with the hoe. In 

 this way grapes can be very cheaply cultivated. Great care should 

 be taken not to go too deep on account of destroying too many roots. 

 Some growers recommend clover in their vineyards. I have tried it 

 but noticed my vines getting weaker and so I plowed clover up the sec- 

 ond year. 



