108 



the presence of heat, when it should be shovelled over, and, if 

 too dry, more water applied. This may be done two or three 

 times, at intervals of a few days, using caution in applying 

 water, as, if the mixture once becomes pasty, it cannot be prop- 

 erly or conveniently applied. Gypsum, or dry soil, will effect- 

 ually check and preserve the ammonia that will otherwise be lost 

 during the process of fermentation. 



The application of clay, or well seasoned muck, will be useful 

 on very light, sandy land, by absorbing and retaining moisture 

 in a dry season. The grape, however, seldom suffers from 

 drouth. Southern California is reported to have but two inches 

 of rain annually, and there the grape is perfectly at home. The 

 preference of our American grapes for rather dry situations is 

 well known and recognized by all successful vineyardists. 



CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE. 



After what has been said relative to the growth of roots near 

 the surface, it would seem unnecessary to caution the grape- 

 grower against deep tillage in the vineyard after the vines have 

 become established. The surface soil being filled with a perfect 

 network of roots, it follows that the cultivation must be of the 

 most shallow kind. The vineyard is no place for the plow or 

 the spade, and the common cultivator, even, may do a vast 

 amount of mischief in unskilful hands. A light harrow with 

 numerous small teeth, set sloping backwards, ma} 7 be used with- 

 out detriment ; but the best implement I have ever seen for this 

 purpose is a cultivator from which all the teeth have been re- 

 moved, run simply with the wheel and a broad knife attached, 

 from which not a weed can escape. The depth of cultivation 

 may be regulated with perfect ease. There should be no piling 

 of the soil, or throwing it into furrows, but let it be simply 

 raised, loosened, and left as mellow as possible. The harrow 

 may be run through the vineyard every week, or as often as 

 small weeds appear, or the surface becomes crusted, till Au- 

 gust, when all cultivation should cease. Late manuring or late 

 tillage causes late growth of immature wood, which is always to 

 be avoided. The harrow, scarifier, slide hoe, and the steel rake 

 are the only implements required to keep the soil of the vine- 



