PLANTING. 91 



grown therein from eyes or grafts it is always best 

 after taking them out to remove a considerable por- 

 tion of the soil, and spread out the roots. This is 

 necessary from the fact that the roots of plants grown 

 in pots form a series of spirals round the outside of 

 the ball (between the earth and the pot), and if set 

 out in the ground just as they are taken from the 

 pot, it requires a long time before the roots change 

 this habit and acquire a proper direction and healthy 

 condition. The plants should be well watered before 

 being taken from the pots, and they should be set in 

 fine, loose soil, being exposed to the air as little as 

 possible. After planting, it will, of course, be well 

 to be liberal with water, and liquid manure used in a 

 very diluted state will prove highly beneficial after 

 the first week. 



Plants for setting out are usually obtained in pots 

 in June, July, or the beginning of August, and as it 

 frequently happens that at that time the earth and 

 air are so dry as to endanger the life of a young vine, 

 if treated as just directed, we have sometimes found 

 it advisable after receiving them from the nursery to 

 set out the pots (without removing the plants) in the 

 open ground, plunging them about two inches below 

 the surface of the soil, and leaving them there until 

 a few rainy days occur, when the pots are taken up 

 and the plants removed and properly set out. 



