THE ROOTS OF GRAPE VINES. 183 



be done, the following directions are necessary to be 

 attended to : 



When planted in the winter. If the roots be loose 

 and free from mould, provide for every vine two pieces 

 of flannel, or of any description of coarse woollen 

 cloth, sufficiently large to cover over the roots when 

 they are all spread out at length. 



Put these pieces of cloth in soap-suds, to be well 

 soaked, and while that is being done take up a suffi- 

 cient number of moveable bricks, and then rake away 

 with the hand the materials of the bed where a vine is 

 to be inserted, under the course of moveable bricks, to 

 the depth of three inches, and to such an extent of sur- 

 face as will be sufficient for the roots to rest upon, 

 when they are all extended. Then make the surface 

 of this space quite smooth and even. 



After which, take the two pieces of cloth out of the 

 soap-suds, and, having drained them for a couple of 

 minutes, spread one of them out on the surface of the 

 bed, for the reception of the roots. This being done, 

 take the vine, and fixing the stem of it in its proper 

 place and position, spread the roots out carefully to 

 their full extent on the wet cloth ; then lay the other 

 piece of wet cloth on the roots, and replace the mate- 

 rials that were raked off at the beginning, on this up- 

 permost wet cloth, taking care to put only a small 

 quantity at a time, and to place them compactly to- 

 gether, so as to cause all the roots to be in close contact 

 with the surfaces of both pieces of cloth, then re-lay 

 the bricks on the floor in their proper places. 



The roots will then lie warm and moist betwixt a 

 couple of blankets, and being thus taken care of, will, 

 in consequence, send forth new roots with the greatest 

 facility when the proper season arrives. Thus one 

 vine will be disposed of, and the others are of course 

 to be planted in the same manner. 



