PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 53 



diately under any of the rows of vines. If they are 

 between the rows it will not be so difficult to get at 

 them as if they lay directly beneath the plants. 



The next great requisite in a soil for the culture of 

 the vine is depth. Ordinary soils of from eight to 

 ten inches are by no means deep enough. Twenty 

 inches is the least depth to be relied upon, and, if 

 very favorable results are desired, it should be made 

 three feet. The subsoil to this depth should be 

 thoroughly loosened, and, unless its quality is very 

 inferior, it may be well to mix it with the surface 

 soil adding at the same time a good supply of 

 manure or compost. We are aware that some horti 

 culturists object to bringing up the subsoil, but we 

 incline to the belief that if it is of such a character as 

 to produce much injury, the site is unfit for a vine 

 yard. When the subsoil is light (except it be pure 

 sand) no harm can result. If it be pure sand, how 

 ever, it had better remain where it is unless a suffi 

 ciency of clay can be found to mix with it. If, on 

 the other hand, it be so clayey as to hermetically seal 

 up the vine borders, we should prefer to let it remain 

 under. But, if possible, a site should be selected 

 where a good depth of tolerable soil may be obtained 

 either naturally or by proper effort. 



The advantages incident to depth in ordinary cases 

 consist in the roots being placed alike beyond the 



