THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 131 



Planting Chains. These are best made of twisted wire, such as is 

 used for clothes lines. I^ines made of cotton or hemp are apt to stretch 

 when dry, and shrink when wet. Copper wires are inserted to mark 

 the distances at which the vines should be planted. 



Spades. Spades are often used for planting. I/mg-handled spades 

 are more useful than those with short handles. 



Hoes. Besides the common, heavy hoes, very useful hoes can be 

 made of old shovels which are too worn to be of account as such. 

 New handles are set on the shovel blades at a right or sharp angle, 

 thus transforming them into veritable hoes. With these tools much 

 more work can be accomplished than with the common, manufactured 

 hoe, which never cuts well. The large, flat-faced Italian hoe imported 

 to this country from Italy is a most admirable instrument when 

 planting cuttings in nursery rows. In fact it is then indispensable. 



Plows. Of plows, heavy double plows for two horses are used for 

 plowing in the center between the rows, and smaller plows for plowing 

 closer to the vines. As these can be had everywhere, and as every 

 grower has his own preferences, no description of them is required. 



Cultivators. These are indispensable in the vineyard, and various 

 models are in use. The common, diamond-shovel cultivator for both 

 one and two horses is indispensable in every vineyard. The larger 

 one of these may be greatly improved by affixing to the posterior 

 shovels a cutter-bar, which should stand horizontal and on a level with 

 the center of the posterior shovels. 



Randel Disc Cultivators. These are useful in ground that has 

 baked before the lately planted cuttings have begun to bud. They 

 seldom cut or injure any of the cuttings, and the whole field may be 

 gone over regardless of rows or cuttings. 



The Ash Trough. The ash trough consists of a long trough on 

 wheels, all made of galvanized iron, and furnished with numerous 

 perforated holes. It is drawn by two or more horses through the vine- 

 yard, and the cuttings are burned in it as it goes along, and the ashes 

 are scattered over the soil. As yet this trough is only used in a few 

 of the largest vineyards, but when" perfected will be useful every- 

 where, as by its aid the ashes may be saved for the vines instead of 

 being wasted as is now so often the case. 



Sulphuring Cans or Bellows. These are of various shapes and pat- 

 terns. The cans have been superseded by the simple little burlap bag, 

 which does the same or better work. The bellows are similar to com- 

 mon bellows, but are furnished with a distributing nozzle and with an 

 air opening through which the sulphur can be poured. 



The Cutter- sled. This is simply a sled four feet long by two and a 

 half feet wide or more, under which has been fixed a horizontal bar of 

 iron in the shape of a shallow U. It is used in the vineyard after the 

 plowing and cultivation is finished, and when it is of importance to 

 kill the few regaining weeds. The driver stands on the sled, which is 

 pulled by one or two horses. It cuts all the weeds below the soil, and 

 is a most effective and useful tool. 



Vineyard Trucks. These useful trucks are California inventions, 

 and of the greatest importance to the grower. They are now made of 



