MY VINEYARD. 59 



not considered as a desirable practice, but my limited 

 means required it. The soil was prepared by plowing 

 and subsoiling, in the same manner as for the apple or- 

 chard. After thoroughly dragging, all w^as ready for 

 setting the stakes. To accomplish this, a stout line was 

 stretched across the field ; on this, six feet apart, short 

 pieces of white string were tied, so securely as not to slip 

 along the line in either direction. This served as a 

 guide for setting the stakes, and greatly facilitated the 

 operation, besides securing accuracy. My own woods 

 furnished a partial supply of stakes, the rest being pro- 

 cured by purchase. They were eight feet long, and were 

 set two feet in the ground. Holes were first made with 

 a crowbar, and the stakes then driven firmly down with a 

 maul. When one row was set, the line was moved six 

 feet, the string again serving as a guide. On the acre I 

 set thirty-four rows of stakes, thirty-four in the row, giv- 

 ing place for one thousand one hundred and fifty-six vines. 

 Every thing was now ready for planting. 



PLANTING AND FIRST YEAR'S CARE. 



The cuttings put in two years before had now made 

 strong and vigorous plants. As there were not enough 

 of them, a quantity was procured from a nursery. Those 

 grown myself were best. Being yet in doubt as to which 

 variety would prove most successful, I planted two hun- 



