Transplantation of the Gra^e. 103 



TRANSPLANTATION OF THE GRAPE. 



By Charles W. Ridgely, Baltimore, Md. 



History, it is said, repeats itself. Nature, it is certain, does so with 

 far greater precision. And as I have one or two hints to introduce on 

 that exhaustless theme, the cultivation of the vine, I do not know that 

 I can illustrate the philosophy of the subject more eflectually than by 

 narrating my own experience. 



Some years ago, on removing to the country, I found a very unsatis- 

 factory condition existing along the lines of a grape border of the 

 achievements of which great expectations had been cherished. There 

 was nothing but wood — and little of that. The leaves fell off in Au- 

 gust, and what fruit there was perished while immature. The next 

 year witnessed but small improvement. Two facts, it was demon- 

 strated, produce an inevitable result. If grape vines stand in the shade^ 

 in a stiff, poor soil, they will produce no fruit worthy of being gathered. 

 What then.^ Either remove them, and replant under more favorable 

 circumstances, or cast them away as worthless. The decision was, 

 Jirst^ to remove and replant, and afterwards^ if need be, to cast away. 



In March, 1869, then, I dug up, very carefully, and with a great mass 

 of roots, large and small, these vines that had been standing in the 

 ground five years, and replanted them in an open, sunny spot, and in a 

 soil specially adapted to their wants. And as this is the point of the 

 article, I will state how the border was prepared. 



The earth, covering a space about eighty feet long and four wide, 

 was removed to the depth of two feet, and a i-ow of tiles and collars 

 laid at the bottom, to secure proper drainage. After covering the tiles, 

 for their protection, with several inches of the stiff, clayey subsoil, I had 

 old field sods thrown in and trodden down, to the thickness of about a 

 foot, and the trench then filled up with the surface earth. There was a 

 good deal of old, well-rotted manure in the soil, a little more was added 

 to prevent baking, and some of the clayey subsoil was added, and all 

 thoroughly incorporated. In planting the vines, a large hole was made, 

 and nearly ten times as large a quantity of roots was planted as can be 

 procured with the best vines usually grown for sale. In addition, I 

 coiled away in the hole some three to eight feet of cane, that all might 

 take root, and help on the growth. Nor was this all. With a broom- 

 handle I had holes made in the new soil, in three rows, at intervals of 



