SOIL AND SITUATION. 97 



not come into full action until late in the season, and 

 they also continue to act late in the autumn, thus pre- 

 venting the early ripening of the wood. 



If the soil is not naturally rich, spread the manure 

 upon the surface before plowing, then turn it under with 

 the surface-plow, and let the subsoil plow follow in the 

 same furrow, breaking up the subsoil. After the ground 

 has been all plowed over in this way, then cross-plow it 

 in the same manner ; this will insure a thorough break- 

 ing up of the soil and mixing of the manure with it. 

 When the land has been both plowed and cross-plowed, 

 if it is then gone over with the cultivator it will still 

 benefit it very much, as it will break to pieces the lumps 

 which will be left unbroken after even the most thorough 

 plowing. 



We should always endeavor to make thorough work 

 in the preparation of the soil before planting the vine, 

 for it is not an ordinary crop that we are to plant, nor 

 one that necessitates a seed-time to each harvest, but it 

 is one that requires but one planting in a lifetime, yet it, 

 will reward us with many harvests. 



There are very few soils that a person of good judg- 

 ment will select that will need any further preparation 

 than that which can be done with the plow, with the 

 addition, perhaps, of underdraining. Manures, of 

 course, must be applied where the soil is not rich 

 enough without them. 



Manures and their Application. The quantity 

 of manure required by an acre, to fit it to produce a 

 strong and healthy growth of vine, cannot be known 

 until the fact has been ascertained by actual experiment 

 upon each individual piece of land, and the vineyardist 

 only can be the judge in the matter. But it is always 

 best to be on the safe side and put on enough, because 

 the vine will soon exhaust the surplus, if any; while if 

 too little is given, a complete failure may be the result 

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