392 BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



and moving the track, while three to six men, as the distance 

 be long or short, wheel the sand. A common wooden hand 

 hay rake, with half the length of the teeth cut away, is used 

 for the levelling. 



We are now ready to set the plants, which is preferably 

 done in May, or between April 15 and June 10. The level, 

 sanded surface is marked oft' eighteen inches apart each way. 

 The cuttings are secured from a good, healthy growth of 

 vines of the desired variety, being cut off at the ground 

 with a common butcher knife, from four to six barrels of 

 cuttings being needed to set an acre. A bunch of from five 

 to eight of these cuttings is pressed firmly into the sand 

 with a dibble, to a depth of from three to five inches. The 

 ditches are then nearly filled with water and the soil kept 

 moist till the plants have rooted, after which the water may 

 be dispensed with for a time, though it is well to nearly fill 

 the ditches occasionally, if the season be very dry. 



The entire cost of preparing a plantation, including clear- 

 ing of wood, ditching, levelling and sanding, should not 

 exceed $1.25 or $1.50 per square rod, or from $200 to $250 

 per acre. Contractors accustomed to the work are usually 

 to be found who will construct the plantations for the prices 

 above named. 



The settino- of the vines, including the marking, can be 

 done by those proficient in the work for 10 cents per rod. 

 These prices do not include cost of building dam or reser- 

 voir. 



The bogs must be kept clear from weeds and all grass 

 growth, hand weeding being depended upon for this pur- 

 pose. The first season two or three weedings will be suffi- 

 cient, unless it should be excessively wet and the location 

 springy. The second season the vines should make a rapid 

 growth, and twice weeding will probably be all that is 

 necessary. The third season they should bear some fruit, 

 though a full crop need not be expected until the fourth 

 year. The weeds, bushes, etc., will show more or less 

 every season as the plantation grows older, but, unless they 

 are very troublesome, need not be taken out until after the 

 crop is harvested, when all should be pulled, carried off and 



