132 TREATISE ON THE 



heavy rich soil, where the growth of the plant 

 is rapid, and the branches become strong and ex- 

 tended to a great length, I have found the most 

 judicious distance between the plants to be three 

 feet square. 



In order to insure the success of the plantation, 

 and replace the cuttings which may fail of taking 

 to the soil, it will be advisable to plant out a 

 few supernumerary cuttings in a favourable corner 

 of the vineyard, (and here let me remark the im- 

 portance that these should be put out in a part 

 of the same field) in order that in the succeeding 

 season of planting, those cuttings which have 

 failed in the vineyard should be replaced, from 

 the young nursery, selecting of course the most 

 vigorous and healthy, to give to the plantation an 

 uniform appearance as to age and production. 

 There are some vignerons, who, instead of the 

 nursery system, put out an intermediate line of 

 cuttings, between those intended as the stock 

 plantations, and where any of the stock plants 

 fail, the place of the unsuccessful cutting is sup- 

 plied by laying a branch from the supernumerary 

 which has the advantage of the rooted vine, and 

 a season consequently is gained in the establish- 

 ment. This method appears judicious, but care 

 must be taken the second year to eradicate such 

 intermediate plants, where the principle or stock 

 plants have succeeded, and show a vigorous ve- 

 getation. In those of the latter, which draw up 

 in a sickly growth, this method is also to be re- 

 commended, and the evil counteracted by re- 

 placing the feeble plant, from the branch of a 

 strong adjacent supernumerary. The outset of 



