50 OVliN AIK GRAPE CULTUBE. 



CHAPTEE ni. 



PEEPAEA.TIOX OF THE SOIL AND FORMATION OF VINE 

 BORDERS. 



Having selected a proper site for a vinejarcl, tho 

 next step will be to prepare the soil for the reception 

 of tlie young vines. It is rarely if ever that ground 

 can be found in a condition fit to plant a vineyard 

 without thorough and extensive improvements, and 

 unless it be in j)roper order our hopes of success will 

 end in failure and disappointment. 



In our remarks on soil it w^as stated that one abso- 

 lute necessity is a dry subsoil. 'No other good cpiali- 

 ties can compensate for the want of this, and in most 

 cases it is only to be obtained by thorough dra{7iing. 



The first great evil obviated by thorough draining 

 is the existence of stagnant water beneath the sur- 

 face. It is a saying amongst vine-dressers that " the 

 vine cannot bear wet feet." And nothino; can be 

 more true. If the roots be exposed to stagnant water 

 thev w^ill become diseased and die ofi', thus ffivins" 

 rise to weak and ill-ripened though sometinies succu 

 lent growth, and hence causing the vine to suffer from 



