:208 MANUAL OF MODERN VITICULTURE. 



CHAPTER IV. 



PLANTING AND CULTIVATION. 



The planting and cultivation of submerged vines are in 

 ;a general way governed by the same rules as those set forth 

 for American vines. We will point out a few special pre- 

 cautions necessary in this case. 



IST. PLANTING. 



Vines planted with the object of submerging them should 

 not be mixed, as it is necessary to have the whole vineyard 

 completely lignified before water is applied. It is impossible 

 to fulfil these conditions if a block is planted with different 

 varieties, but this object can be reached if we group the 

 several varieties in different blocks, which may be submerged 

 at different times. We must also avoid planting too close to 

 the banks, for the roots penetrating under them, not being 

 affected by the water, would remain covered with phylloxera, 

 and constitute a danger for the rest of the block during the 

 summer multiplication. 



2ND. CULTIVATION. 



(A.) Pruning. Late pruning is above all necessary for sub- 

 merged vines, to prevent them from being destroyed by white 

 frosts. Spurs should be left 1 to 2 feet long, and pruned 

 finally after the buds have started bursting. 



(B.) Manures. It has been stated that submersion exhausts 

 soils by washing away the soluble matters they contain. 

 This assertion, which seems groundless as far as impermea- 

 bility is concerned, may be true in a certain measure for 

 those which are permeable. It is therefore advisable to 

 furnish vines with manures, containing in an easily assimi- 

 lable form matters necessary for their nourishment during one 

 year, and renew it every year. The following formula, used 

 by Faucon, answers very well: 



Rape cake... ... ... ... ... 90 per cent. 



Sulphate of Potash, Stassfurt (containing 38 per 



cent, of potash) ... ... ... ... 10 ,, 



