168 THE GRAPE. 



done, is the preparing of supports upon which to train the 

 vines. 



The most common method of planting is, in straight 

 rows from five to six feet apart, and at right angles with 

 each other, and to simply have a pole to each vine ; the 

 method of training being the long rod, explained page 

 120. This answers the purpose very well and has be- 

 come the most customary, in part from the introduced 

 routine of Europe, and in some measure as a consideration 

 of economy. As to the latter, there may be some saving 

 to the pocket, but unless there are more than counter- 

 balancing advantages, there is no use in following old 

 customs, so long as better ones can be introduced, and in 

 the present case, an improvement may be accomplished 

 by cheap trellises, which may be made in the following 

 manner : Prepare a quantity of good strong poles of 

 locust, chestnut, oak, or ash, seven feet six inches; point 

 and char these three feet on the lower end and drive 

 them into the ground two feet six inches, in rows six feet 

 apart, extending east and west, or as near these points as 

 may be practicable, and the poles nine feet assunder ; next 

 fix horizontally long narrow strips of wood, or straight 

 but thin saplings, to the uprights, at a distance of one foot ; 

 this will make a substantial trellis on which to train the 

 vines, and be far superior, with very little more expense 

 than the pole-to-one-vine that is so often made use of. It 

 is high time for us to adopt a principle of neatness com- 

 bined with utility, and endeavor to supersede . all such 

 primitive machinery. If we are to imitate, let it not be a 

 retrograde movement, but onward progress ; and a still 

 further improvement might be introduced in the trellis re- 

 commended, by using galvanized iron wire for the hori- 

 zontal supports. There is some prejudice existing against 

 the use of wire as it has been thought that it does injury 



