202 AMERICAN VINES. 



(VIII.) FERTILITY OF GRAFTS. r The Berlandieri, Riparia. 

 and Rupestris bear the most prolific grafts ; then follow Vini- 

 fera X Berlandieri, hybrids Vinifera X Riparia, Vinifera X 

 Rupestris, York, Solonis; then Vialla, Herbemont, Jacques, 

 Cunningham. 



(IX.) EARLINESS OF RIPENING OF FRUIT. The earliest 

 ripening fruit is of the grafts on Riparia and Berlandieri, 

 Rupestris, Solonis; then hybrids Vinifera X Riparia, Vini- 

 fera X Rupestris, Vinifera X Berlandieri; later still, Vialla, 

 Herbemont, Jacques, Cunningham, York. 



(b) Deep Cultivation. As we have already stated in the 

 first part of this work, the vine, like all plants, prefers a deeply 

 loosened soil. Trenching is therefore necessary, and, if not 

 indispensable (for all American vines can grow in untrenched 

 ground), is at least of JJie greatest utility for such varieties 

 as the Riparia, most of v the Rupestris, etc., which grow very 

 slowly in compact soils. Trenching, however, obtains in 

 many vine-growing regions for the varieties of the V. 

 Vinifera, and in many places not a single vine is planted 

 without previously trenching the ground to a depth of 20 

 inches or even 3 feet. 



The vine grows more vigorously during the first years in 

 trenched ground, and bears fruit at the third leaf; while in 

 non-trenched ground it does not bear crops till the fifth or 

 sixth year; an advantage of two or three good crops is thus 

 derived. It is always important to gather a crop as soon as 

 possible, to cover the considerable expenses incurred in plant- 

 ing a vineyard; trenching, therefore, is more than ever 

 necessary; it hastens the gnowth of the vine, and places it in 

 better condition for its future development. 



It is especially necessary for grafted rootlings. These 

 young plants, often weakly at the time of planting, and with 

 a root system always weaker than that of ordinary rootlings, 

 often remain sickly when planted in soils which are not 

 favorable; thorough trenching greatly facilitates their early 

 growth. 



Generally trenching to a depth of about 20 inches ^is 

 sufficient for American vines, a greater depth, however, suits 

 them better. It may be done either by hand or plough. If, 

 in both cases, the soil is not very calcareous, the subsoil 

 should be brought to the surface, where it improves by 

 contact with the air and under the action of successive 



