49 



Thej should be made of hard wood, such as oak or 

 locust. Care should be had that the roots of the vines 

 be not injured when putting them in. In Europe, 

 stakes are made about one inch square, often of pine 

 wood, and taken out in the fall, and reset every spring. 

 This treatment preserves them much. 



The stakes must be set in to suit the particular trim 

 of the grapevine, so as to afford fair access to warmth 

 and light. 



"Where four thighs, or rather four long spurs, are 

 carried to each vine — (a favorite mode of trimming of 

 late in Germany, and one well suited to level, heavy 

 soils) — the thighs should then be only twelve to four- 

 teen inches long, with spurs on them for bearing wood, 

 and no bows, leaving upon each spur four or five buds, 

 or twenty altogether on the vine. The stakes need not 

 be more than three feet high above the ground. They 

 are then set out thus : 



Stake. 



o 

 Head. 

 Stake, o O o Stake, t^^ South. 



o 



Stake 



Where three thighs are carried — ^the favorite Elsa- 

 3 



