VINEYARD AND OUT-DOOR CULTURE. 169 



to the vines by the rusting and their friction against so 

 hard a material, but practically we do not find it so. Let 

 the superintendent only attend to his duty without nurs- 

 ing his old prejudices, and see to the proper tying, and 

 our word for it, there will be no more detriment in wire 

 than anything else. However, let everybody go along as 

 he thinks best, only move onward, and as we are a great, 

 and daily becoming a greater nation, let us not disappoint 

 the expectations of the world by our want of originality. 



All may now be considered as ready for planting, and 

 here again we have many notions to contend with. Cut- 

 tings one-year old, two-year old, and even three-year 

 old plants, have each been considered as the best, accord- 

 ing to the whims and fancies of pedantry. The fact is, we 

 want a healthy start, at the least expense ; and as the 

 plants must have a length of time to become profitable, 

 what can be more economical, or insure future success 

 better, than good one year vines ? The more than half part 

 of this business depends on previous preparation ; but, as 

 this costs money, it is well, at the same time, to be getting 

 ready the future occupants ; consequently it is good advice 

 to say : raise the plants on one spot, and be preparing on 

 the main superficial area ; or, if it be not convenient to 

 propagate, adapt all contingencies so as to make sure of 

 after results. 



A young and well-rooted plant will, if properly managed 

 and attended, produce a greater growth than a stunted 

 older one, with the additional advantage of being alike in 

 all its parts ; what is true individually, will be so collect- 

 ively, over the whole vineyard, and a greater uniformity 

 will be obtained. In transplanting, take care that the 

 roots are lifted carefully, and removed to their new quar- 

 ters, before they become dried ; nothing produces more 

 evil to any plant than this often careless practice. Roots 



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