26 THE vine-dkesser's manual. 



twenty feet apart, and tlien they alternate with fruit 

 trees, in the intermediate space, — say a row of fruit 

 trees, and ten feet from it a row of vines, and so on. 



I cannot, without occupying too much space, enter 

 into a discussion of the relative merits of wide or nar- 

 row planting. I can only say that, in my humble 

 opinion, it is best not to plant narrower than four by 

 four, nor wider than six by six. A vineyard spaded 

 up to the proper depth has cost so much as to be in 

 itself a veto on too wide plantiog, and I may as well 

 admit that I am no friend to mammoth vineyards. In 

 no business is slovenliness more pernicious than in that 

 of a vintner, and I cannot get clear of the impression 

 that large vineyards cannot receive in all points that 

 close attention which is required to raise good wine, 

 and to guard the vines against premature decay. It is 

 to be expected that various methods will prevail, ac- 

 cording to locality, but I doubt not that four by four 

 ^vill prove the most generally applicable. In fact, we 

 we may say, that such is actually the case. Let each 

 follow in this matter his own good sense, and adopt, 

 from the best lights aroimd him, the proper width, 

 bearing in mind the humidity or dryness of his soil, 

 and securing the proper light and sh^xde. 



This done, get good strong cords, long enough to 

 reach as often as necessary across the entire vineyard. 

 Mark off one cord by putting in a slip of muslin at each 



