HORTICULTURE 239 



a foot from the young plant and work under it from this point of 

 beginning ; at the same time gently lift or pull the vine but not hard 

 enough to strain or break its roots. If, however, there are roots that 

 are broken or mutilated in the operation of digging, as is likely to be 

 the case, they should be cut smoothly at their ends, which will greatly 

 encourage the formation of new roots in place of those broken or cut 

 away. This same care should be given plants that are purchased 

 from the nurseryman before planting them out. Cut back the pre- 

 vious year's growth of wood to a spur of two buds. If the young vine 

 has been neglected in the nursery and allowed to form several shoots 

 they should all be cut back in the same manner. 



Care should be taken in these operations to guard the roots of 

 the vine from all avoidable exposure to sun and wind. When a plant 

 is dug and its roots and top pruned as above directed, and it is made 

 ready for planting, in case it is impossible to plant it at once, its 

 roots should be immediately covered with fresh earth or otherwise 

 protected until it is wanted for planting. 



Distances Between the Vines. Farmers almost invariably use 

 horse cultivators. It will be well, therefore, to plant the vines, when 

 more than a dozen in number, with this fact in view. It is inferred 

 that the vineyard will be subordinate to the general farming opera- 

 tions; hence the vines should be planted in long lines or rows for 

 convenience in using the horse and cultivator in their culture. The 

 proper width of rows will be 7 or 8 feet, about double the space al- 

 lotted to several ordinary farm crops. Then the cultivator may pass, 

 if necessary, directly from the adjacent field crops and through the 

 vineyard rows. This will establish the distance apart of the rows of 

 vines, and the average distance between vines in the rows may be 

 safely fixed at 8 feet, though this will depend somewhat upon the 

 system of training intended and the varieties to be planted. Strong- 

 growing varieties like Concord or Niagara will require a little more 

 space, while feeble-growing ones, such as the Delaware, may do well 

 with less. 



Time and Method of Planting. It will be well for the vines if a 

 cloudy, damp day (not wet) in spring or fall be chosen for their 

 planting, as the roots will be less injured by exposure to such an at- 

 mosphere as would then prevail. The digging of the holes is of 

 minor importance, as it is inferred that the soil of the vineyard 

 site has been thoroughly prepared before the time of planting and 

 the holes will need to be made only large enough to receive the roots 

 of the vine without cramping them. The bottom of the hole may be 

 made a little higher in the center so that the roots of the vine, when 

 it is placed on this highest point, will be a little deeper at their outer 

 end. They should be evenly distributed so they will start out in 

 every direction from the vine, their common center, as they were 

 originally formed. Fill in about the roots with well-pulverized soil 

 and the work of planting is accomplished. The plants should be set 

 a little deeper than they stood before they were taken up for trans- 

 planting. 



Supports and Training. The support for the young vine at 



