340 



APPENDIX II. 



Couture' 1 ' 1 as one of the best for the vine. If, however, a 

 chevetee may be used, it is to be preferred to any other for the 

 purpose. It is planted near the vine, and the operation is con- 

 ducted in the same manner as for the graft. 



The great advantage of the cTieA-elee is that it bears fruit the 

 following summer. 



An essential precaution, and one which is equally applicable 

 to the three methods of propagation above mentioned, is the 

 proper choice of the shoot intended to furnish the graft, the 

 cutting or the layer. The shoot should have borne fruit during 

 the year, and should be strong and in a healthy condition. The 

 clusters should have been such as to exhibit in the highest 

 degree the distinguishing qualities of the variety Avhicli it is 

 desired to cultivate. Before the grapes are gathered, the shoots 

 which appear the best suited for this purpose should be marked. 



PLANTATION AND PROCESS OF BEDDING OB LAYING THE 

 TRELLISED VINE. First Year. The superabundant moisture 

 with which the soil is always impregnated during the winter is 

 especially injurious to the roots of the newly-planted vine; it 

 causes them to decay. The end of the winter, when the earth 

 is drained sufficiently, is the time which should almost always be 

 chosen for planting. There is no exception to this rule, but 

 for dry and scorched soil like that of central and southern 

 France. In such ground it is better to plant at the beginning 

 of winter. The following is the process employed for layers in 

 baskets : 



If the land to be used is new, or if it has not lately been tho- 

 roughly cultivated, it should be dug during the winter to a 

 depth of 32 or even so deep as 39 inches, if the soil is pebbly. 

 The soil thus spaded up should extend to within 53.2 inches of 

 the base of the wall. In the preceding chapters we have 

 already spoken of the necessity that the soil should be such as 

 to conduce to the health of the plants which it is intended to 

 support. Such a soil is particularly essential to the vine. It 

 may even be advisable, after the first spading mentioned, to 

 carry it to a depth of 48 inches, and to widen it to an extent 

 of 89 inches. The permeability of the soil should also be 



I 



