TRANSPLANTING. 83 



oughly pulverized. It is expected that while the young 

 vines are in the nursery, not only will their roots be 

 improved, but their general character will be so devel- 

 oped, that a proper selection can be made when they are 

 transplanted into the vineyard, so that plants of equal 

 vigor may be planted in the same row, and every vine 

 upon the trellis may be in an equal state of forwardness, 

 so that each step in the system of training may be applied 

 to all the vines at the same time. This is of the utmost 

 importance, if anything like neatness and uniformity is 

 to be obtained in the vineyard. But it is difficult to 

 secure this if one-year-old vines are planted, as at that 

 time their real vigor or weakness cannot be readily 

 determined. 



To prepare the vines properly for the vineyard, they 

 should be carefully taken up in the fall of the first sea- 

 son, and "heeled-in" in a cool cellar or in some dry 

 place in the open air. They should remain in this situa- 

 tion until spring, when the ground has become suffi- 

 ciently dry to work easily; but the earlier they can be 

 planted, provided the ground is in suitable condition, 

 the better. When taken out for planting, the roots 

 should be shortened at least one-third, and, if very long 

 say two feet or more then they may be cut back one- 

 half, as it will not only be more convenient to plant 

 them if shortened, but the plants will be benefited. 



The plants should be kept under cover while being 

 trimmed, and the roots kept moist and out of the wind, 

 which would soon destroy the small fibers and injure the 

 large ones. The trench in which the vines are to be 

 planted should be dug before the vines are taken into 

 the field. 



Draw a line across the plot of ground to be planted, 

 and dig out the soil, as shown in Fig. 27 ; this is eight- 

 een inches wide, and twelve inches on one side and five 

 or six on the other, the bottom being slightly oval ; the 



