WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 133 



CHAPTER XL 



HOW TO LAY OUT AND PLANT A VINEYARD. 



Every vineyard ought to have a main road or avenue, into 

 which all others lead, and which should therefore, if the loca- 

 tion will permit, be as near central as possible. If the 

 ground is rolling, and cut up by ravines, the greatest conven- 

 ience in hauling and carrying will have to be consulted. In 

 ground nearly level, or gentle slopes, the most convenient 

 and economical plan will be to lay it off in squares of about 

 two acres each, but making the squares double as long as. 

 they are broad, to facilitate the carrying of the grapes, stakes,, 

 fertilizers, if necessary, etc. The best distance between the 

 rows I consider 8 feet, though many plant 7 feet, and even- 

 closer, while others contend that they should be still further 

 apart. Eight feet will give room for convenient working, 

 and also give sufficient space to the roots. It will take 

 blocks of 25 rows broad and 50 rows long to make about 

 -two acres of vines, but if we want to include the avenues in 

 the measurement, the block should be 24 by 48. The first 

 will give 1246, leaving off the four vines at the corners, for 

 greater convenience in turning, the latter 1148 vines to each 

 block. 



The next thing we want is a lot of markers; that is, short, 

 thin stakes, split of redwood, say 15 to 20 inches long, and 

 about half an inch in diameter. They are tied in bundles of 

 100 to 200, and to make them more apparent, the tops can 

 be dipped in a tub of whitewash. This, with two long lines 

 as long as a block at least, or 400 feet, and a short one to 

 reach across the block, or 200 feet, two measuring poles 



