

236 THE VINEYARD. [MARCH; 



Preparation of the Soil. 



Having made choice of soil and situation, the next thing to be 

 done, is to prepare it for planting ; in doing of which, the follow- 

 ing method is to be observed. In the Spring, if the soil is not 

 naturally rich, give it a good coat of well rotted manure, or com- 

 post ; and immediately plough it in as deep as can be done, with 

 four or six stout horses, or oxen, and a strong plough ; after it has lain 

 a month, cross harrow it, and cleanse it from stones and the roots 

 of noxious weeds. About the middle of June, cross plough it 

 again as deep as possible ; in three weeks after, harrow it, and 

 clear off all the roots of weeds and large stones. Towards the 

 latter end of August, plough it again, and harrow as before. In 

 November, give it another very deep ploughing, and let it lay so 

 all winter, without harrowing. As early in the month of March 

 following, as you find it sufficiently dry, and in a good state for til- 

 lage, but not before, plough it across the hill, and as deep as you 

 can, running the plough twice in each score ; then harrow it well, 

 and you have it in a fine state for planting. 



In some ground, and very frequently in that extremely well 

 adapted to the culture of the vine, the declivity is too great to cul- 

 tivate it with the plough ; in which case, it must be done with the 

 spade, and other manual implements ; and it would be well, if 

 such land could be thrown, or banked up into terrasses, each capa- 

 ble of receiving one, two, or three rows of vines, the better to re- 

 tain the necessary manure and moisture. 



Preparations for Planting, &c. 



Being provided with a number of four feet stakes, in proportion 

 to the quantity you intend planting, and made as directed in Janu- 

 ary, page 4 1 ; mark out your ground, in rows ranging north and 

 south, as well as east and west, by placing those stakes at intervals 

 of six feet distance every way, so as it may be convenient to plough 

 and harrow between the rows in these directions. This is meant 

 for a south exposure ; but in others, they are generally arranged 

 up and down hill, as well as across ; though the former direction 

 may be given to the rows in any situation, and perhaps with more 

 advantage, as to ease of culture, and benefit of the sun. 



Six feet, plant from plant, every way, will not be too great a dist- 

 ance, however it may appear at first view ; especially in a country, 

 where Providence has been very bountiful, in blessing its inhabitants 

 with abundance of ground, as well as with every thing else, that tend 

 to make an industrious man happy; for, if planted too close, there 

 will not be room for the sun and air to pass freely between the rows, 

 to ripen the fruit and dry up the moisture and autumnal damps, 

 which would otherwise be imbibed by the fruit, and render it crude 

 and insipid ; and more particularly so, when their stocks grow large, 

 and their branches proportionably extend themselves on each side. 



