WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 16^ 



five and even six foot stakes are necessary, and will be found 

 most economical in the end, as the vines will pay for the ad- 

 ditional cost of the stakes in their first seasons bearing. The 

 comparative price of the stakes is here about as follows, at the 

 lumber-yards : 



4 foot stakes, sawed, \\ inch diameter, per 1000 $16 00 



5 " " " \\ " " " " 23 00 



6 " " " 2 " " " " 34 00 



If we also count in the additional cost in hauling and hand- 

 ling, we will have about 2 % cents more, for 6 feet than 4 feet 

 stakes. Two pounds of choice grapes additional the first 

 season, Will pay for this, and square the account, with the 

 additional product every season, which at a Low calculation 

 will be 5^) per annum in favor of the longer stakes. 



Drive the stakes on the side of the vines from which you 

 have your prevailing winds in summer. Of course they should 

 be pointed, and can then be driven with a sledge hammer or 

 wooden maul, when the ground is soft in winter. They 

 should be in the ground from 15 to 18 inches, so that a six 

 foot stake would stand about 4^ feet above the ground. If 

 the vines have made but little growth, the staking may be 

 postponed until the second year, and the young vine tied to 

 the marker the second summer, The best material for tieing 

 in summer are the leaves of the Phormium tenax, or New 

 Zealand flax, which can be torn into strips, and are very flex- 

 ible and strong. The leaves of the common Dracena (Dra- 

 cena Draco) or Dragon tree, answer about equally well. In 

 fact, all the Dracenas and Yuccas furnish excellent tying ma- 

 terial, better than the common grape twine now in use, and 

 not near so expensive. Every vineyardist should plant some 

 of these, especially of the ' Phormium, which is gratuitously 

 distributed by our State University. They are all fine orna- 

 mental plants, and only the dead or dying leaves need be used. 



The second summer, our first operation must be the plow- 



