CHAPTER V. 



PLANTING AND MANAGEMENT THE 

 FIRST YEAR. 



IN choosing vines for planting, see that the wood is 

 well ripened and solid, and the roots clean and healthy. 

 One year old, propagated from the eye are best for the 

 grapery, or from cuttings for the vineyard, but those of 

 two years are not objectionable. The most proper time 

 for planting is about the beginning of March, under glass, 

 or so soon as the ground is in good working order, out of 

 doors, when the vines have not been prematurely started 

 into growth, as they are then just commencing to move 

 from a long repose, and have no great time to remain in 

 their new quarters before fresh rootlets begin to push 

 forth. When deferred much longer, these fibres are sub- 

 ject to injury, being very brittle. If the vines have been 

 grown in pots, which is generally the case, with the ex- 

 otics, the soil ought to be entirely shaken from them, and 

 the entangled roots carefully straightened out, care being 

 used when planted, that they are spread in all directions 

 diverging from the stem. After loosening up well, and 

 smoothing over the surface around on the base, where it is 

 intended to fix them, have in readiness a quantity of the 

 same material as the border is composed of, broken up 

 fine and mixed with a third portion of leaf-mould, if to be 

 had if not, it is not of much consequence, but the young 

 rootlets soon lay hold of it, and a good start is half the 

 battle. Strew two inches of this compost over the sur- 



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