68 



The Grape Culturist. 



grown from cuttings, or from single 

 ejes. We refer to this subject again 

 in another article, where wo will trj 

 and give our reasons fully why we 

 prefer them. 



If your ground is prepared, and suf- 

 dciently dry, so as to pulverize well, 

 you can plant. Make a hole with a 

 spade, slanting towards the hill, so as 

 to got the lowest roots of the young 

 vine about 9 to 10 inches, or even a 

 foot below the surface. Here let us 

 remark, that the depth of planting 

 must necessarily vary somewhat with 

 the nature of the soil. On very steep 

 hill sides, and especially on southern 

 slopes, with naturally warm, dry soil, 

 you must plant deeper than on deep, 

 rich hillsides, or on bottom land, or 

 our rich prairie soil. Eight inches 

 will be deep enough on the latter, 

 while on the former, I would plant a 

 foot deep, or even 14 inches. The 

 reason wky, will be obvious to every 

 thinking mind. We can no more give 

 a rule for uniform depth of planting 

 than we can get a universal grape for 

 all soils and climates. 



Having made the holes, — and do not 

 make too many at a time, as the 

 f/round will dry out too quickly, — we 

 can go to the planting itself. Take 

 your vines in a pail with water, or 

 wrapped in a wet cloth; when planting, 

 let one person shorten the roots, with 

 a sharp knife, to about six inches, then 

 spread them out evenly to all sides, 

 and another fill in with well pulver- 

 ized earth. The earth should be 

 worked in among the roots with the 

 Lingers, and lightly pressed to them. 

 Lay the vine in slanting, and let its 



top come out at the stake previously 

 set. Then, with your knife, cut back 

 the top to a bud just above, or even 

 with the surface of the ground. 



You can also, if the ground is in 

 suitable condition, plough and hoe 

 old vineyards. We have found the 

 common one-horse plough the most 

 suitable for this purpose. It can be 

 easily and nicely managed, and will 

 pulverise the soil more thoroughly 

 than any cultivator or other implement. 

 Plough from, the rows first, taking a 

 furrow as near to the vines as you 

 can without hurting them, then hoe 

 in and around the vine, with the two 

 pronged german hoe (karst), and vrhen 

 the hoeing is done, plough to the 

 vines again, now ploughing all the 

 space between the rows thoroughly, 

 leaving a furrow in the middle, which 

 will serve as a surface drain for each 

 row. We plough about 4 inches deep 

 the first time. 



This is especially the month for 

 grafting. For modus operandi sec 

 Feb. No. 



Cuttings, if not already planted, 

 should be put out as quick as possible 

 now, in the manner described in the 

 Feb. No. 



Canes for layering may be pegged 

 down. Pulverize the soil thoroughly 

 under the vines, then make furrow^- 

 about an inch deep, bend the cane 

 into it, and peg down with woodci: 

 hooks cut for the purpose. You eai; 

 cover with earth, when the shoots 

 have grown about six inches ; not 

 now, as the buds will break more 

 evenly, if the canes are not covered. 



