143 TREATISE ON THE 



ed to lay the branch, which half a foot of extra 

 depth should be filled by the mellow rich soil, 

 taken from the upper or superior surface of the 

 trench, and which" should be immediately around 

 the branch laid. This greatly facilitates the de- 

 velopement of the fibrous roots that shoot freely 

 in ground thus prepared for their vegetation. 

 On the other hand, should this precaution be 

 overlooked or neglected, it is greatly to be feared 

 that in a rainy season, and particularly in the 

 vineyard of the plain, the water which falls into 

 the trench being retained by a close or compact 

 soil, cannot pass off, but stagnates around the 

 young roots of the plants, and are greatly detri- 

 mental to their advance and prosperity. The lan- 

 guishing which always succeeds such inconve- 

 nience, may be generally avoided by sinking the 

 trench to the proper depth, and replacing the 

 earth taken from it, by the loose and porous soil. 

 In replacing the earth, the trench must be only 

 half filled, the earth which remains being placed 

 along the margin of the ditch, in order that from 

 time to time during the season, it may be thrown 

 into the trench, so that by the autumn it may be 

 completely filled, and on a level with the circum- 

 jacent ground. It will be recollected, that this 

 additional soil must be the meagre earth from the 

 bottom of the trench, and is always to be placed 

 above, the branch laid. In the spring follow- 

 ing, it will be found that the surface of the trench 

 has sunk below the level of the ground adjacent, 

 which defect must be replaced by other earth, 

 and the whole levelled. The first work of the 

 spring must now be attended to. The roots 



