March.] THE VINEYARD. 943 



despair of having good fruit for that purpose, as vines will grow 

 and bear well in any dry and tolerably rich ground; that is, neither 

 sandy nor light to excess, nor too clayey or binding; for a tolerable 

 stift'loam will do well enough with the assistance of good culture. 



Preparation of the Soil. 



Having made choice of soil and situation, the next thing to be 

 done, is to prepare it for planting; in doing of which, the follow- 

 ing method is to be observed. In the spring, if the soil is not 

 naturally rich, give it a good coat of well rotted manure, or com- 

 post; and immediately plough it in as deep as can be done, with 

 four or six stout horses, or oxen, and a strong plough; after it has 

 lain a month, cross harrow it, and cleanse it from stones and the 

 roots of noxious weeds. About the middle of June, cross plough 

 it again as deep as possible; in three weeks after, harrow it, and 

 clear oft' all the roots of weeds and large stones. Towards the 

 latter end of August, plough it again, and harrow as before. In 

 November, give it another very deep ploughing, and let it lay so 

 all winter without harrowing. As early in the month of March 

 following as you find it sufficiently dry, and in good state for til- 

 lage, but not before, plough it across the hill, and as deep as you 

 can, running the plough twice in each score; then harrow it well, 

 and you have it in a fine state for planting. 



In some ground, and very frequently in that extremely well 

 adapted to the culture of the vine, the declivity is too great to cul- 

 tivate it with the plough; in which case, it must be done with the 

 spade, and other manual implements; and it would be well, if 

 such land could be thrown, or banked up into terraces, each capa- 

 ble of receiving one, two, or three rows of vines, the better to 

 retain the necessary manure and moisture. 



Preparations for Planting, fyc. 



Being provided with a number of four feet stakes, in proportion 

 to the quantity you intend planting, and made as directed in Janu- 

 ary, page 48, mark out your ground, in rows ranging north and 

 south, as well as east and west, by placing those stakes at intervals 

 of six feet distance every way, so as it may be convenient to plough 

 and harrow between the rows in these directions. This is meant, 

 for a south exposure: but in others they are generally arranged 

 up and down hill, as well as across; though the former direction 

 may be given to the rows in any situation, and perhaps with more 

 advantage, as to ease of culture, and benefit of the sun. 



Six feet plant from plant, every way, will not be too great a dis- 

 tance, however it may appear at first view; especially in a country 

 where Providence has been very bountiful in blessing its inhabitants 

 with abundance of ground, as well as with every thing else that 

 tends to make an industrious man happy; for if planted too close, 

 there will not be room for the sun and air to pass freely between 

 the rows, to ripen the fruit and dry up the moisture and autumnal 



