Cultivation 



As the feeding roots of the vine spread in every direction only a few inches under the surface 

 of the soil, and extend as far, probably, as do the vines above, it is evident that the cultivation 

 to avoid damaging, must be shallow, not deeper than four or five inches. When the vineyard 

 is young, the ground should be stirred deeper than in after years, in order to force the main roots 

 as deeply into the soil as possible, so that after cultivation may not tear them up. Level cultiva- 

 tion is necessary to allow uniform depth to the roots, and to prevent heavy rains from washing 

 away and gullying the land. One of the best implements for such work is a light Acme harrow, 

 three or four feet wide, with extension more on one side of draft than the other and provided 

 with handles for guiding, so that side can be made to reach up close to the vines under the trellis, 

 and that orre animal can draw it. It should be run as soon after each considerable rain falls, as 

 the soil will pulverize well, and always before weeds are an inch high, when it will completely 

 destroy them. This will leave a narrow strip along the row to be cleaned with the hoe. Next 

 to the Acme harrow, is the five-toothed cultivator, set to run shallow. 



The first cultivation in spring should be deepest, before roots begin feeding much, and is 

 best done with a small turning-plow. For very sandy land, the chilled cast plow is far the most 

 durable. 



Cultivation in the vineyard should be thoro and continued thruout the season, so as to 

 have no grass or weeds to devour the fertility of the soil, or to seed and befoul the land for 

 the next season, or to burn through the vineyard, after becoming dry, doing great damage, as is 

 sometimes seen in poorly-cared-for vineyards; or to harbor insects that prey upon the vine. 

 Nowhere does clean, careful culture pay better than in the vineyard. No person should be 

 tolerated in the vineyard, who is so careless as to bruise and bark roots and vines with the plow 

 or hoe. 



Fertilization 



If the vineyard was properly prepared, and fresh, rich land used, or else well enriched, no 

 further enrichment will be needed for four to six years. By the time three or four good crops 

 have been taken off, the vineyard will be seen to wane a little in vigor and in size of clusters and 

 berries. This is the proper signal for giving the vines more food. If the green of foliage is less 

 dark than formerly, nitrogen is needed ; if the wood-growth is becoming shorter, more slender, 

 potash is wanted ; if the fruit is less richly flavored and colored than formerly, the phosphoric 

 acid of the soil is becoming exhausted. 



Usually all the three prime essentials named above, disappear together, and then a fertilizer 

 containing all three, known among commercial brands as, "complete fertilizer," and found in good 

 proportion in stable and cow-lot manure, the latter better for vineyards, and in cotton seed and 

 cotton-seed meal. All are good for the vine. Twenty-five large ton loads of well rotted barnyard 

 or stable manure per acre, applied once every three or four years, will keep the vineyard in good 

 growth. It should be applied broadcast and cultivated in. A ton of cotton seed per acre every 

 two years, or a ton of cotton-seed meal and two tons of cotton-seed hulls every four years, drilled 

 in with a cotton-seed planter, will do better, being more durable and free from weed-seeds. A 

 ton of complete commercial fertilizer drilled in every four years will also answer well. 



For nitrogen alone, nitrate of soda is the cheapest source, unless slaughterhouse offal is to 

 be had cheaply near by. For potash, Kainit is the cheapest, unless fresh wood ashes can be 

 secured near by at a low rate. For phosphoric acid, phosphate rock treated with sulphuric acid, 

 known as acid phosphate, is the cheapest source. 



As in all other agriculture, vine culture has the same law, that is, if you wish your land to 

 feed you well, you must feed and groom it well. 



228 



