PLANTING THE VINEYAKD. 43 



the heap of soil taken from the hole. Next, 

 with the fine soil at hand raise a cone as shown 

 in Fig. 11, so that the roots shall be about 

 four inches from the surface. In the cut, how 

 ever, the cone is too sharp, except for very small 

 vines. Now prune or shorten the principal 

 roots as shown in Fig. 12, and place the plant 

 on the center of the cone. While the plant is 

 held in its place with the thumb and forefinger 

 of the left hand, the roots must be carefully 

 spread out, ray-like, with the right ; the assist 

 ant, with a spade, then sifts or shakes in some 

 fine soil, which must be carefully and firmly 

 worked in among the roots. By taking a portion 

 of the roots at a time, and using the unemploy 

 ed fingers of the left hand, a little practice will 

 enable one to so spread out and cover the roots, 

 that no one of them shall come in contact with 

 another. If the roots are abundant, and over 

 lap each other, as is the case with the best vines, 

 the overlapping roots must be held up while 

 those beneath them are being covered, so as to 

 place a layer of soil between them. The hole 

 is then to be filled up, and the cane cut down 

 to three eyes or buds. 



Another plan, well adapted to light soils, and 

 also to prevent the ill effects of drought, is to 



