62 AGRTCUI/rURAL EXPLORATIONS TN ALGERIA. 



growing- of wine orapos havo })ecn realized. Deep alluvial soils, con- 

 taining a considerable amount of clay and of organic matter, are found 

 to give the largest yields. These soils retain enough moisture during 

 the sunnner to prevent much harm to the vines from the sirocco. The 

 better qualities of wine are, however, commonly produced on hillside 

 vineyards, at altitudes not exceeding 3,000 feet. Some districts that 

 are otherwise perfect I3' adapted to vine3'ards suffer so heavilv ironi 

 hailstorms in spring as to make them unprofitable for grape culture. 



The vines are planted to best advantage in squares or in a quincunx, 

 i. e. , in s(}uares with one vineat each corner and one in the center. It is 

 verj' important to arrange the vines so that the vineyard can be plowed 

 in both (lii-ections. It is considered advisable, under Algerian condi- 

 tions, when })lanting in scjuares, to set the vines 5, or, for some varie- 

 ties, feet apart each way. The vines are set out during the months 

 of January, February, and Ahirch. Pruning is generally done in the 

 latter part of the winter. The varieties most conunonl}- grown by 

 the colonists, such as Carignane, arc trin)med back close to the stump, 

 leaving a circle of 5 to 8 spurs. When trinmied long, the canes are 

 trained on wire or are supported by forked sticks. Among the 

 Kabyles, the vines are generally allowed to grow on trees. Close 

 trimming is said to increase the ability of the vines to resist drought, 

 wdiich is an important matter in Algeria. Grafting is resorted toi 

 w^hen it is desired to replace the varieties in a vineyard with better^ 

 varieties, and to render it more productive, March and April being 

 the best months for this operation. In Algeria vines generally begin 

 to bear in their fourth year, although a full crop is not obtained until 

 the sixth or seventh 3' ear. 



Late in the winter, after trinuning is completed and ])efore the buds 

 have begun to start, the vinevards are plowed, usually to a depth 

 of 6 inches. This shoidd be done when the soil is fairh' dry. Occa- 

 sionally the plow is followed l)v a subsoiler. Vines send their roots 

 deep into the soil in Algeria, so that there is little danger of injuring 

 them bv this treatment. A hoe or ])ick is used to loosen the soil 

 around the roots of the vines. In some vineyards, in order to cover 

 the roots, a cross plowing is then given which, like all subsequent 

 plowings, is shallower than the first. During the summer the vine- 

 3'ard is given as many cultivations with the hoe or the scarifier as are 

 necessary to I'id it of weeds and to preserve a loose mulch on the sur- 

 face of the soil that will keep down evaporation. Bermuda grass is 

 often a serious pest in Algerian vineyards. 



Although in vineyards careful cultivation will partly take the place 

 of irrigation, the yield can almost always be increased l)y the judicious 

 application of water. Irrigation in winter, so as to stoi'c up water 

 in the soil, is recommended for such regions as the Chelift Vallej'', 



