116 THE GRAPE CULTtJBIST. 



much discussion upon the value of layered plants. 

 Those who obtain properly grown layers and cut back 

 the roots to at least one-half their length before planting, 

 pronounce them to be equal to plants grown in any other 

 way. But those who have pursued the opposite, and 

 planted them with their roots entire, often fail to pro- 

 duce healthy or vigorous plants, and therefore condemn 

 them. 



Vines will sometimes have so great a number of 

 roots that when transplanted the number of buds left 

 upon the stem is insufficient to call them into action, 

 and they perish, in consequence; for roots will not 

 remain entirely inactive for any considerable time during 

 the growing season without suffering. If the roots are 

 so crowded that they can not be distinctly separated and 

 a clear space be allowed for each when placed in the 

 ground, then a portion should be entirely removed. 



If the texture of the soil is such as to make it con- 

 genial to the growth of the roots, and permit them to 

 permeate it without hindrance, their course will be more 

 inclined to the horizontal than the perpendicular, and 

 certainly the former position is more desirable than the 

 latter. For when the roots spread out horizontally, they 

 remain near enough to the surface to receive the full 

 benefit of all top-dressings of manure which may be ap- 

 plied to the vineyard. They are also more accessible to 

 heat, air and moisture, than when they penetrate deeply. 

 And while it is desirable to encourage the spreading of 

 the roots in every direction, so as to occupy every por- 

 tion of the soil, and have them near enough to the sur- 

 face to receive all the benefit possible from such a posi- 

 tion, yet we should not place them too near the surface 

 at the time of planting, nor endeavor to keep them there. 

 For unless the roots are covered deep enough to prevent 

 their being affected by sudden atmospheric changes, 

 the vine will surely suffer. Roots that are near the sur- 



