70 THE AMERICAN VINE-DRESSER'S GUIDE. 



would do well to steep your roots in a solution 

 of that kind for an hour before planting them. 

 So long as the bark of the vine is of a deep 

 brown color, and the leaves of a briglit green, 

 manuring is not indispensable ; but if they 

 begin to take a yellowish tinge, and the plant 

 seems to dwindle, then hasten to its help. 

 You can do so with the aid of good mould, or 

 by carrying to your plants earth of a different 

 quality. For instance, on light soil, put 

 heavy ; to rich, bring light soils. This may 

 be done in autumn, uncovering at the same 

 time the roots of the vine, and cutting away 

 the upper roots, and covering them up again 

 with new earth ; or at the time of your second 

 ploughing and uncovering in s]3ring. The 

 old trunk is to be covered up with mould, or 

 with fresh earth, which must always be taken 

 from the surface. The vine improves sensi- 

 bly with a mixture of soils : indeed, it is the 

 means to make it thrive, and to insure a plen- 

 tiful crop. 



