60 MY VINEYARD. 



dred Concords, and for the rest, an equal number of- Ca- 

 tawbas and Isabellas. The holes were dug throughout the 

 Avhole field, on the south side of the stakes, before com- 

 mencmg to plant. They were about ten inches deep, and 

 twenty-four in diameter, and dug in such a manner as to 

 bring the stake in the hole, but near the north side. Be- 

 fore planting, the long, sprangling roots were shortened, 

 so that none of tliem were more than fifteen inches in 

 length. The steins were shortened to two buds. Fine 

 surface soil Avas placed in the holes, putting it a little 

 deejDcr in the center than at the edges. On this the vine 

 was placed, with the stem three inches from the stake. 

 The roots were evenly spread out in all directions, and as 

 the soil was highest in the center of the hole, they sloped 

 somewhat towards the outside. Fine soil was then 

 thrown on and worked in by hand among the roots. The 

 holes were then filled, and the soil jDressed down with the 

 foot. When all was finished, the roots at the base of the 

 stem were about three inches below the surface of the soil. 

 When the buds had started, and the branches had be- 

 come a foot long, I went over all the vines and cut ofi" the 

 upper branch and old wood down to the lower branch, 

 where the latter was the stronger of the two. When the 

 upper one was very much the more A'igorous, that was 

 left. The only attention giA^en the Aines the first year 

 Avas to keep them tied up to the stakes. The ground Avas 

 kept clear of weeds, the first crop of turnips obtained 



