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MAKE THE GROUND CLEAN. 



Clear off all bushes and rubbish, and take off the turf to such 

 depth that sedge grass and weeds will not spring up from their 

 roots and grow again. The value of this turf, when piled and 

 rotted, or composted, as a dressing for uplands, is usually 

 greater than the cost of clearing it off and hauling. But if it 

 were of no value, its removal is a work that should be done 

 before planting the vines. The surface of the ground must be 

 made smooth, and should be nearly level. A very slight in- 

 clination towards the drains is often useful, but is not absolute- 

 ly essential if the soil is sufficiently porous. If the ground is 

 all nearly at one level, the water may be kept at just the right 

 height to give the needed moisture to the whole field of vines. 

 This is important, especially in dry seasons. 



DRAINING 



Is often required to bring meadows into a workable condition. 

 One leading drain or open ditch, with a free outlet, is always 

 needed in such lands. 



A few side ditches, leading to the central one, are usually 

 necessary. Sometimes an outside drain is wanted along the 

 borders of the meadow, to cut off the flow of water from the 

 higher lands around. Very cold water should be kept from 

 the vines in summer and autumn. It is injurious to the vines, 

 and retards the growth and the ripening of the fruit. If a 

 dam is built to overflow the ground in winter, the outlet 

 through it, at the end of the principal drain, should be made 

 low enough to take off the water to the bottom of that drain, 

 or to the depth of thirty inches or more from the surface. 



Apertures made through the gate at various heights, may be 

 opened or closed so as to completely control the depth, or 

 rather height, of water in the drains. This ability to regu- 

 late the flow of water, will often make the difference between 

 a large crop of nice fruit, and a small and every way inferior 

 crop. 

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