CHAPTER III 
SoIL AND CULTIVATION 
Soil — Manure vs. fertilizer — Necessity of trenching — Building up run- 
down arbours — Mulching — Cultivation of the soil— When and how 
to water. 
Soix is a question of utmost importance in the 
growing of vines; most of the vine family are 
rank growers and demand a liberal quantity of 
plant food. If you give them what they require, 
you are almost sure to have good results. If 
you plant them in poor soil, without any prepara- 
tion, do not look for anything but failure. 
I should estimate that ninety per cent. of the 
disease and trouble we encounter in growing 
vines arises from improper preparation of the 
soil, or none at all. 
For vines of all kinds, I prefer manure to com- 
mercial fertilizers. It is more lasting, it collects 
and stores so much moisture that it encourages 
root action, and, finally, there is very little 
danger of giving the plants too much and thereby 
injuring them. For very heavy soils it may be 
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