240 THE VINEYARD. [MARCH. 



and covered with earth to within two inches of their tops, where 

 they are to remain till you are ready to plant them ; covering them 

 in frosty or parching weather, with some loose, dry litter, which is 

 to be taken off every mild day, that they may the more effectually 

 be inured to the open air. This is the best method of preserving 

 them, even during the entire winter. I do not approve of keeping 

 cuttings, for any length of time, in close, dark, unventilated cellars ; 

 for in such places they become weak, blanched, tender and sickly, 

 and seldom succeed well when planted out ; besides, they have no- 

 thing to imbibe, whilst there, but foul air, which vitiates their juice$> 

 and brings on diseases and bad health. 



Method of Planting. 



Having your ground prepared, and marked out with stakes as 

 before directed, and your cutting in readiness ; so soon after the 

 middle of this month, as you find the soil dry and in good order, 

 proceed to planting in the following manner :... .Take up a number 

 of your cuttings carefully, without injuring the buds, and place 

 them in a bucket of dung water, about six inches deep, the bucket 

 having a handle for the convenience of carrying it from place to 

 place : then, at each stake, make a hole with a spade, about a foot 

 deep, and as wide as you please, but it will be better to have all 

 these holes made the day before you commence planting ; into each put 

 one strong cutting, placing it a little sloping, and so deep, that the se- 

 cond bud from the top, may be just on a level with the general sur- 

 face ; immediately fill the hole with earth, pressing it gently with 

 your feet to the cutting, and drawing the loose earth round, so as to 

 cover the second bud, before noticed, half an inch deep ; which bud, 

 so protected, will frequently make the most vigorous shoot, and 

 often succeed, when the top bud, exposed to the weather will not ; 

 then drive down the stake, so as to make it firm, within three 

 inches of the plant. 



If your cuttings are not extremely good and fresh, and such as 

 may be depended on, it will be the more certain way to plant two 

 in each hole, the tops within a few inches of each other, and the 

 lower ends sloping in opposite directions, for the greater conve- 

 nience, if both should succeed, of removing one, without disturb- 

 ing the other ; these extra plants may be made use of next season, 

 to fill up vacancies, or to form anew plantation. 



Cuttings are generally preferred for this purpose to rooted plants, 

 as they are thought to establish themselves more effectually when 

 not removed ; however, when such are to be planted, keep their 

 roots out of ground but as short, a time as possible ; and if im- 

 mersed, when taken up, in a pap of earth and water, or dm g 

 and water, the better : plant them in the same manner as directed 

 for the cuttings, pruning their heads, and observing to place their 

 roots, after first shortening any long stragglers, in a spreading 

 manner in the earth, and then cover them up as before. 



It is necessary that each particular kind of grape should be 

 planted in separate quartersj that they may all be gathered, when 



