112 THK RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



side, and the soil is again raked back with the same kind of hoe, and 

 then tamped hard around the cuttings. The latter need not be over 

 two or three inches apart, and from forty to fifty thousand may be set 

 on one acre of ground. In no instance should the cutting be left more 

 than one or two inches above the surface of the ground. The best 

 instrument or tool for opening the soil and for covering the cuttings is 

 the large flat-faced Italian hoe, used by Italian workmen both in 

 Europe and in this country. 



If the bed system is adopted, much smaller cuttings may be used, 

 although it is not necessary to have them smaller than six inches. 

 The beds may be two feet wide and four feet apart, in this respect 

 resembling nursery rows, and treated just as such. The cuttings are set 

 in the beds two or three inches apart each way. We must remember that 

 such cuttings require much more water than cuttings planted in four- 

 foot rows, as the quantity soon exhausts the moisture in the soil. 

 The beds may also be square, each one surrounded by a little bank or 

 levee of soil in order to hold the water. In these beds, which should be 

 slightly below the general surface of the ground, the cuttings are set very 

 close, two or three inches apart, until the whole bed is filled up. 

 These beds are never cultivated in any other way than by pulling the 

 weeds out by hand. They must be frequently irrigated by flooding, 

 except when the soil is immensely wet or moist. 



Vines may also be propagated from a single eye, or from cuttings 

 containing a single eye. Such cuttings may be set perpendicularly in 

 beds or in rows, or they may be placed horizontally in boxes with pure 

 sand, and entirely covered over. The single eyes soon sprout and 

 make nice little plants, with a well-developed system of roots. 



All these cuttings planted in beds, if properly watered during the 

 summer, will make excellent vines to be set in vineyard form next 

 season. Being set so close, they require much moisture and irrigation, 

 the many new roots soon exhausting the moisture in the soil. It is 

 better, however, to have the cuttings set as closely as possible, so as not 

 to get too strong vines. An overgrown vine is more expensive to 

 plant and more difficult to handle than one of medium growth. Be- 

 sides, the latter has a greater number of fibrous roots, which, if in 

 good condition, will give a quick start and rapid growth to the new 

 vine. , 



Care of Rooted Vines. The same precautions are to be observed with 

 rooted vines as with cuttings, only more care is required to shield the 

 roots from the sun and wind. Wet blankets or sacks should always 

 be used when the roots are taken to the field, and, if the vines show 

 the least sign of being dry, they should be -soaked for several hours in 

 pure water, and in this respect treated just like cuttings. 



Planting Rooted Vines. Planting rooted vines is not attended with 

 many difficulties. The most important points to observe are these. 

 The vines must be freshly dug. If not, or if the least dry, soak in 

 water over night. Cut away all dead or dry rootlets. Prune the top 

 of the vine down to two or three buds, and leave only one spur. Have 

 the vines covered while carried out in the field, and plant only in moist 

 ground. The young and tender roots are easily dried if set in warm 



