88 OPE^ AIR GRAPE CULTURE. 



mold on the bottom of the hole, so as to form s. 

 conical heap, the top of which should be just at a 

 suitable height to support the base of the stem in its 

 proper position. Then, having placed the plant on 

 the top of this little mound, spread out all the roots 

 equally and naturally over its side and fill in with 

 pulverized soil, being careful to pack the soil firmly 

 around the roots, yet still leaving it mellow and 

 porous. 



The soil ought to be raised some inches above the 

 surrounding ground, the aroount depending upon the 

 size and depth of the hole dug. All filling in is apt 

 to sink, and unless this is done, the plant may be 

 found after a few weeks to be too low. Some, how- 

 ever, prefer to have the plant set in a hollov/, claim- 

 ing that a basin is thus formed which catches and 

 retains the rain. We would rather rely upon good 

 mulching for obtaining the requisite amount of mois- 

 ture, but if this is dispensed with, and recourse had 

 to the former plan, we should prefer to have the hol- 

 low or basin in the form of a ring around the edge of 

 the hole, leavino^ the stem surrounded with a little 

 mound which will shed the rain. The stem is thus 

 kept dry, and the moisture is guided just where it is 

 wanted, viz. : to the extremity of the roots. Figure 

 8 gives a sectional view of the soil so arranged. 



When vines have been raised from cuttings con 



