94 THE GRAPE CULTURIST. 



fill auxiliaries in the advancement of agriculture, but I 

 would warn those who implicitly rely on all the theories 

 advanced, that they may ask too much of it, and thereby 

 be led astray. 



Preparing the Soil. The manner of preparing 

 the ground for a vineyard depends entirely upon the 

 kind of Boil, and its natural condition. If it is heavy 

 and compact, the first step will be to underdrain it, 

 either with stone drains or tile. 



The number of drains required, and the depth to 

 which they should be laid, will also depend somewhat 

 upon the nature of the soil and the amount of water to 

 be carried off. If the land has springs in it, then the 

 drains should be placed so as to cut them off near their 

 source, and prevent, as much as possible, the excess of 

 water from spreading. 



But soils containing springs, except they be grav- 

 elly, should be avoided, as they are, perhaps, the most 

 unsuitable that could be selected. There are also many 

 soils that are called dry that should be underdrained, 

 especially if they are inclined to heavy loam or clay ; not 

 so much to carry off the water, but to aerate the soil 

 that is, allow the air to penetrate and circulate through 

 it ; for air always carries with it more or less heat and 

 moisture, and if the mechanical texture of the soil is 

 such as to readily admit air, then it will be more likely 

 to be in a condition to transmit moisture rapidly, but 

 not to hold a superabundance. 



Drains are usually placed from twenty to forty feet 

 apart, and three to four feet deep, according to soils, 

 situation, and the crop to be grown on the land. For 

 vines the drains should be placed deeper than for ordi- 

 nary farm crops, else the roots will soon penetrate to 

 and fill them. To describe the different kinds of mate- 

 rials used in draining lands, as well as the manner of 

 laying, cost, etc., would occupy too much of our space, 



