AND WINE MAKING. 41 



that we began. What we aimed to do may be accom- 

 plished by them. Let their motto be, as ours was, "Ex- 

 celsior," until this country becomes in truth, what the 

 pre-Columbian Northmen called it, a true Vineland. 



CHAPTER IX. 



PLANTING THE VINE. 



The distance at which the vines may be planted, will, 

 of course, vary with the different varieties. The rows 

 may all be 6 feet apart, as this is the most convenient 

 distance for cultivating, and gives space enough for man, 

 horse and plow, or cultivator. Slow growing varieties, 

 such as Delaware, Catawba, or Alvey, may be planted 6 

 feet apart in the rows, but Concord, Norton's, Herbe- 

 mont, and all strong growing varieties, will need more 

 room, say from 8 to 10 feet, to give the vines ample space 

 to spread, and allow free circulation of air, one of the 

 first conditions of success. The next question is ; Shall 

 we plant cuttings or rooted plants ? The latter are by 

 far the best, as cuttings, even of the easiest growing va- 

 rieties, are uncertain, and we cannot expect to have so 

 even a growth as from rooted plants carefully assorted. 

 Choose, therefore, good, strong, one-year-old plants, the 

 best you can get, either from cuttings, layers, or single 

 eyes. Good plants should have plenty of strong, well- 

 ripened roots, which are smooth and firm for excres- 

 cences and warts upon the roots are a sign of Phylloxera 

 and have also well-ripened, short-jointed wood. They 

 should be of even size, so as to make a uniform growth, 

 and not have been forced by the propagator into rank 

 growth, for we cannot expect plants that have been petted 

 and pampered with artificial manures, to nourish with 



