GRAPES. CULTIVATION, SOIL, ETC. 275 



below the wood of the former year's growth, which should 

 be strong, and remain of good length ; and as the effects of 

 girdling are, in the end, destructive to the branch, the op- 

 eration should be performed on different portions of the 

 same vine in alternate years. The most suitable period for 

 girdling the vine is early in July, and as soon as the fruit 

 is formed. With a sharp and hooked knife, make two cir- 

 cular incisions around the trunk, and quite through the 

 bark, at the distance of from one fourth to three eighths of 

 an inch asunder ; then make a perpendicular cut, and re- 

 move the ring of bark quite clean to the wood. If the vine 

 is very vigorous, this section may soon close, in which case 

 it must be reopened. [See GIRDLING, in the former part 

 of the work.] 



2d. Early maturity is induced by confining the roots to 

 a very limited range near the surface of the earth, and by 

 limiting their supplies of moisture. Or, 3d, by securing the 

 vines very near to the walls, which are covered with a black 

 paint, formed of lime, tar, and charcoal. The black color 

 enables the wall to absorb and retain the heat of the sun's 

 rays, which are given out gradually to the vine. But where 

 the wall is farther removed from the vine, it must be ren- 

 dered white, with paint or lime, that the heat of the sun's 

 rays may be reflected. 



In cold countries, according to Chaptal, and in vine- 

 yard culture, and where the vine requires the whole heat 

 of the sun, the vines should be supported on trellises or 

 stakes, or elevated on poles placed perpendicularly in the 

 earth. And in this mode, the vines may be very closely 

 planted. The earth being left uncovered, and receiving 

 all the activity of the sun's rays, and these reverberated, the 

 whole plant is exposed to its action ; and being so near, 

 the produce may be thus multiplied on equal surfaces. But 

 in warmer climates, the earth requires to be sheltered from 

 the excessive heat of the sun, and the vines may be sup- 

 ported on arbors, or suffered to creep on the ground. 



In vineyards, close planting is most expensive at first, 

 but the ground is thus more suddenly and completely filled; 

 and small vines are more easily managed than large ones. 

 Of European varieties, two thousand seven hundred vines 

 may be required to an acre, the rows being four feet 

 asunder, and the vines at four feet distance in the row ; 

 each vine being extended, and rising from the surface with 

 many vertical shoots within the row. But the American 



