THE VINEYARD AND ITS MANAGEMENT 83 



PLANTING 



The dangers and difficulties of planting hardwooded plants 

 are greatly exaggerated. The tyro, in particular, is impressed 

 with his responsibilities at this time, and often sends a hurry-up 

 call to experiment station or nurseryman to "send him a man 

 to plant." If the land is properly prepared and the plants 

 in good condition, the operation of planting is easily, quickly 

 and safely accomplished. There is no need, in planting the 

 vine, of such puttering overniceties as laying out the roots to 

 preserve the fibers, watering each vine as it is set, inserting 

 the vine in a gingerly fashion to make sure that it stands in 

 its new abode as it stood in the old, or puddling the roots in 

 pail or tub of water. On the other hand, the slap-dash method 

 of a Stringfellow who cuts off all small roots and uses a crow- 

 bar in place of a spade is not doing duty by the plant, and bury- 

 ing the roots deep in the earth or covering them close to the 

 surface is courting failure. 



Digging the holes. 



This is a simple task in land in good tilth. The holes need 

 only be large and deep enough to hold the roots without undue 

 cramping. Herein is again manifested the wisdom of thoroughly 

 preparing the land; for, in well-prepared land, the hole is 

 really as large as the vineyard. Even in the condition of poor 

 tilth, deep holes are often a menace to the life of the plant, 

 especially if drainage is not provided, for the deep hole becomes 

 a tub into which water pours and stands to soak the roots of 

 dying vines. An extra spurt in digging holes cannot take the 

 place of perfect fitting of the land. 



There is nothing to commend the practice of digging holes 

 in a leisure time that all may be ready when the time to plant 

 arrives. The vines will strike root best in the freshly turned, 

 moist soil of newly dug earth, which can be firmly set about 



