THE VINEYARD AND ITS MANAGEMENT 93 



leaves lack color and hang limp and the vine has an indefinable 

 air of depression ; and there is nothing better than cultivation 

 to rouse latent vigor in a scorching summer, or when drought 

 lays heavy on the land. 



Tillage tools. 



The tools to be used in tilling grapes vary with the topography 

 of the vineyard, the kind of soil and the preferences of the 

 vineyardist. The best tool is the one with which the ground 

 can be well fitted at least expense. Good work in the vineyard 

 requires at least two plows, a single-horse and a two-horse 

 plow. The latter, except on very hilly land, should be a gang- 

 plow. For commercial vineyards of any considerable size, 

 several cultivators are necessary for different seasons and 

 conditions of the soil. Thus, every vineyard should have a 

 spring-tooth and a disc harrow, one of the several types of 

 weeders, a one-horse and a sulky cultivator. If weeds abound, 

 it is necessary to have some cutting tool, or an attachment to 

 one of the cultivators, to slide over the ground and cut off large 

 weeds. Another indispensable tool in a large vineyard is a 

 one-horse grape-hoe, to supplement the work of which there 

 must be heavy hand-hoes. Very often the surface soil must 

 be pulverized, and a clod-crusher, roller or a float becomes 

 a necessity. A full complement of bright, sharp tools at the 

 command of the grape-grower goes far toward success in his 

 business. 



Tillage methods. 



There are several reliable guides indicating when the vine- 

 yard needs to be tilled. The vineyardist who is but a casual 

 observer of the relation of vineyard operations to the life events 

 and the welfare of his vines will take the crop of weeds as his 

 guide. It is, of course, necessary to keep down the weeds, but 

 the man who waits until weeds force him to till will make a 



