PREPARI3SG THE GROUND* 233 



and a half, and that at all events this should extend a foot or 

 more in breadth, where the rows of vines are to be planted, 

 which operation is usually performed the year previous to 

 planting. The French vineyards being mostly on stony ground, 

 it is often necessary to dig out many of the stones in order to 

 facilitate the extension of the roots, and to render the after 

 working of the ground less laborious. In such cases these 

 stones are gathered in heaps or placed as at Cote-Rotie in 

 lines, in such manner as to prevent the soil being washed away, 

 thus affording economical terraces much more solid than those 

 formed by hedges of shrubs, as is generally the method pur- 

 sued. London seems averse to cultivating the earth to a great 

 depth, and makes the remark, that "in nine cases out of ten, 

 the unfruitfulness of the wall trees in England is owing to the 

 too great depth and richness of the borders, and the continual 

 cropping and digging of their surfaces ;" but other writers in 

 speaking of the vine, state that the ground should be dug to 

 the depth of two and a half or three feet. The safest measure 

 to pursue, is to read all that others have to say, and then to ex- 

 ercise one's own judgment. 



The course which I should most approve and recommend, 

 both from considerations of economy in labour and beneficial 

 results, is to plough to as great depth as can be done, with 

 four oxen or horses and a plough of proportionate strength, 

 or by having two ploughs to follow each other ; this opera- 

 tion should be performed early in the season, after having 

 covered the surface with a good coat of compost or rich loam, 

 or if stable manure can alone be had, it should be that which is 

 old and decomposed, and where all scent has evaporated ; after 

 two or three weeks 'have elapsed, harrow it and clean it from 

 noxious weeds. This ploughing and after harrowing can be 

 repeated twice or thrice ^during the season at suitable periods 

 from May to November, and the oftener it is performed the 

 better, as it serves not only to render the soil completely per- 

 vious to the roots, but also ameliorates it by subjecting every 

 part of it to the operation of the atmosphere, and by allowing 

 the evaporation of superabundant humidity. At the last 



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