PLANTING ^'OUNG VINES 



CHAPTER V I 



PLANTING YOUNG VINES 

 Plants Rooted from Eves — A Correct Trelli 



VINES may be planted eitiier in the Fall or in the early Sprino;, accorclino; 

 to circumstances. I prefer the early Fall, as then a little root action 

 will take place, especially if the vines are planted about the end of 

 October or the first week in November. If neither the houses nor the borders 

 are ready to receive them at that time it is best to wait until the turn of the 

 season, which will be about the first of February. Inquiries have come to me at 

 different times on the subject, and I have always recommended early Fall plant- 

 ing. There is, however, quite a difference of opinion as to just the best time and 

 some of my correspondents have not been able to understand the object of 

 planting in the Fall and letting the vines rest seemingly dormant for months. 

 My opinion is, that of two plantings, one made in the early Fall and the other 

 about the first of February, the former would come away the stronger of the two. 

 Such a trial would be a fair test of the two methods. 



Canes which have been grown one year in pots and thoroughly ripened are 

 the best for planting in the border. Still, there is a great diflerence in the stock. 

 I have seen so-called one-year-old canes that I would not plant at any price. 

 Get the best canes obtainable and cut them back to within two feet. If they are 

 good, strong canes they will be in about nine-inch pots and fairly well matted 

 with roots. These roots must be carefully disentangled, preserving all the 

 fibrous roots. The safest way is to knock them out of the pots the evening 

 before planting and to place the balls in a tub of water; the soil will have fallen 

 away by the following morning and the roots may then be easily straightened 

 out. Spread the roots on the border and co\er them with about three inches 

 ot soil. A mulch of farm\ard manure may be put around the vines to prevent 

 evaporation. Gi\-e them a light watering first to settle the soil around the roots, 

 but do not saturate them. They may be planted one inch lower than they were 

 when growing in the pot. Allowing the ball of earth to be thus dissolved may 

 seem rough treatment, but if you plant your vines with the ball of earth as they 

 are taken out of the pot \ou will live to regret it, for they will make but a poor 

 attempt to grow. Another fact to be considered when planting in a newly made 

 border is that it will probably subside somewhat; so, if the vines are tied at all, 

 thev should be tied loosely so as to allow for this subsidence. 



