THE VINKYARD AND SMALI. FRUITS. 305 



over that some straw and boards. Take care that the 

 trench is in moist but not wet earth, as too much 

 moisture causes the cuttings to decay. There is as 

 much need of deep and fine working of the soil, press- 

 ing it around the cuttings, and for careful culture dur- 

 ing the growing season, as there is for the treatment 

 of fruit-tree seedlings or root grafts. In planting a 

 vineyard the vines are placed eight feet apart each way, 

 except in the case of raisin grapes, when space must be 

 provided to spread trays on which the grapes are to be 

 dried. Such plantations are made with the vines 

 7 X ID, or 8 X 10, or even 4)^ x 1 1 feet. There is a great 

 variation in the distances. When planting the vines 

 all dead roots should be cut off and the top cut back to 

 two buds or eyes. The holes for planting should be 

 large enough to allow the roots to be spread out in a 

 natural position and the earth should be packed care- 

 fully around all the roots. If the soil is not moist 

 when the vines are planted, they should be irrigated 

 at once, or, what is better still, the ground should be 

 well soaked by flooding or otherwise before the plant- 

 ing is done. 



Cultivation. — Grape-vines the first year after 

 planting should be cultivated the same as corn, using 

 first a two-horse corn cultivator straddling the rows 

 and afterwards passing between them, working the 

 land four times during the season, and also using a 

 hoe near the vines. It pays a large per cent, on the 

 investment to keep the ground mellow and clean. 

 When the ground is kept mellow a harrow is a good 

 t-ool with which to kill small weeds, using it between 

 the periods of cultivation. Do not attempt to pradlice 



