124 TREATISE ON THE 



soft and mellow, and which in the preceding 

 years has been well manured, at the bottom of the 

 trench, the sterile earth from which must be 

 placed on the surface. 



The manured rich soil thus deposited at the 

 bottom of the trench, affords to the fibrous roots 

 of the plant those nutritious juices, that enter so 

 largely into the principles of vegetation, and 

 greatly promote the growth of the young vine. 

 They also contribute to a duration that cannot 

 be expected without this salutary precaution. 



The meagre soil from the bottom of the trench 

 thus placed on the surface, prevents the vine 

 from pushing its roots too high, and does not 

 allow the increase of the numerous parasitic 

 plants which spring from too rich a surface, .and 

 choke the young vine before it has acquired suf- 

 ficient strength to make head against such a for- 

 midable competition. This work should be per- 

 formed during a dry time in autumn ; or early in 

 the spring, in order that the earth should have 

 time to settle around the roots of the plant. In 

 replacing the earth from the trench, care should 

 be taken so to 'fill it, as to leave no vacuum, or 

 space, which is prejudicial to the roots of the 

 young plant, as the fibrous radicles, when thus 

 interrupted, perish in the vacancy from want of 

 soil. Attention should also be given that no 

 person walk on the newly worked ground, as it 

 is necessary to the growth of the young plant, 

 that the ground on which it stands should be 

 kept soft and mellow. A few days after the 

 planting of the slips or cuttings, it will be advi- 

 sable to observe that there are no inequalities on 



