THE VINEYARD AND ITS MANAGEMENT 75 



Alleys. 



For convenience in vineyard operations, especially spraying 

 and harvesting, there should always be alleys through a vine- 

 yard. Oh hilly lands, the alleys are located to secure ease in 

 hauling; on level lands they are usually arranged to cut the 

 vineyards into blocks twice as long as wide. An alley is usually 

 made by leaving out a row of vines. Many vineyards are laid 

 out with rows far enough apart so that alleys are not needed. 



Distances between rows and plants. 



There are great variations in the distances between rows and 

 plants in different regions, and distances vary somewhat in 

 any one region. Distances are influenced by the following 

 considerations : Rich soils and large vigorous varieties require 

 greater distances than poor soils and less vigorous varieties; 

 sometimes, however, it is necessary to crowd a variety in the 

 vineyard so that by reducing its vigor fruitfulness may be pro- 

 moted. Usually the warmer the climate, or the exposure, the 

 greater should be the distance between vines. Very often the 

 topography of the land dictates planting distances. But while 

 taking in account the preceding considerations, which rightly 

 suggest the distances between plants in the row, convenience 

 in vineyard operations is the factor that most often fixes the 

 distance between rows. The rows must be far enough apart 

 in commercial vineyards to permit the use of two horses in 

 plowing, spraying and harvesting. 



Planted in squares, the distance varies from seven feet in 

 garden culture to nine feet in commercial vineyards for eastern 

 America. More often, however, the rows are eight or nine 

 feet apart, with the vines six, seven or eight and in the South 

 ten or twelve feet apart in the rows. Planting distances are 

 less, as a rule, on the Pacific slope than in eastern regions ; that 

 is, the distances between the rows are the same, to permit work 



