86 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



as the shoveler fills, must align the plant after the stake is 

 removed and see that it stands perpendicularly in the hole. 

 The stake, a lath, is set in its old place in the hole to serve as a 

 support for the growing vine and to mark it so that the culti- 

 vator does not pull up the young plant. The soil must be set 

 firm about the roots of the plant, but zeal in tramping should 

 diminish as the hole is filled, leaving the topsoil untramped, 

 smooth, loose and pulverized, a dust mulch the best of all 

 mulches to prevent evaporation. 



The depth to which vines should be set is a matter of con- 

 troversy. This should be governed by the soil more than by 

 any other factor, although some varieties need a deeper root- 

 run than others. The rule to plant to the depth the vine stood 

 in the nursery row is safe under most conditions, although in 

 light, hungry or thirsty soils the roots should go deeper ; and, 

 on the other hand, in heavy soils, not so deep. Deep plant- 

 ing is a more common mistake than shallow planting, for roots 

 under most conditions stand exposure better than internment, 

 going down being more natural than coming up for a root seek- 

 ing a place to its liking. 



Watering at planting is necessary only when the land is 

 parched with drought or in regions in which irrigation is prac- 

 ticed. When necessary, water should be used liberally, at 

 least a gallon or two to a vine. After the earth has been firmed 

 about the roots and the hole is nearly filled, the water should 

 be poured in and the hole filled without more firming. Under 

 dry weather conditions, some prefer to puddle the roots; that 

 is, to dip them in thin mud and plant with the mud adhering. 

 In making the puddle, loose loam and not sticky clay is used, 

 as clay may bake so hard as to injure the roots. With puddling, 

 as with watering, the surface soil should be left loose and soft 

 without traces of the puddling below. 



Manure or fertilizer about the roots or even in the hole are 

 not necessary or even desirable. If the soil is to be enriched 



