F. KUBENS UPON THE VINE AND ITS TREATMENT. 307 



Layincj out new Vineyards. 



Preparing of the Soil. — In laying out new vineyards two points 

 are particularly to be considered : whether the piece of land has 

 never been planted with grape-vines, or whether it is an old vine- 

 yard which has to be planted anew. In the first case the follow- 

 ing things should be taken into consideration : 



1. Turning of the Soil. — As the grape-vine requires the soil very 

 mellow, this is attained by turning the soil from two to three or 

 four feet deep. Of the most advantage is it if it can be done after 

 the grape-gathering, and remain then in that state until spring. 

 The manner in which this is done is not material, only the best 

 mode is to have it done by hand and with the spade. To subsoil 

 the land with plow will answer nearly the same purpose, should 

 hand-labor be too expensive. Should the soil be hard, and not 

 allow the water to run off easy, the land should be ditched. Is 

 an old vineyard intended to be planted anew, it is decidedly the 

 best to rest the land for a few years, to gain certain substances 

 which have been exhausted by the vines, unless the bottom soil 

 should be decomposed rock. In this case the turning of the land 

 will answer. If this is not the case, the land should rest for at 

 least three years. Grass or clover may be sown on the same. In 

 the third year the grass must be turned under to decay, 



2. Terracing the Ground. — Terraces are made on steep hill-sides, 

 to form them into so many pieces of land with a level surface ; 

 firstly, to be able to cultivate the vines more easily ; and, second- 

 ly, to retain the moisture as much as possible. Stone walls are 

 built to form the terraces, which are inclined toward the hill, to 

 be able to resist the pressure of the earth. 



Division of a Vineyard. 



What distance to plant the grape-vines from each other depends 

 more or less upon the slope of the land, the variety of grape-vine, 

 the soil, and the method of training the vines. In vineyards 

 where the land is of a gradual inclination, the vines should be 

 planted farther apart than on land which is steep ; on level land 

 or plains, farther apart than on hill-sides ; vines of rank growth, 

 farther apart than those which grow but little wood; in strong 

 and rich soil, farther than in poorer soil ; vines trained on trellis, 

 farther than those trained after the common vineyard style. 



The vines and the rows must be so far from each other that the 

 sun can penetrate to the foot of the full-grown vines, and the air 

 be able to strike freely between the rows, so that the grapes may 

 attain their full ripeness. 



Planting a Vineyard. 



The spring is the best time for planting, if the soil is very rich 

 and heavy. In regard to the selection of vines, the necessary 



