PLANTING VINES. 237 



The autumnal planting should take place at the fall of the 

 leaf, say in the eastern states after the 20th October ; in the 

 middle states, and as far south as Georgia, it should be per- 

 formed in November, and in Alabama, Louisiana, and Flori- 

 da, in December. I am convinced that where the winters are 

 severe, early fall planting is much more advantageous than 

 when it is deferred, as the vines will form young roots the 

 same season, which will greatly aid them in supporting the ap- 

 proaching rigours of the climate. But where the great seve- 

 rity of the winter renders spring planting necessary, it should 

 be performed at the earliest possible period after the frost has 

 left the earth, which in this latitude is generally from the 5th 

 to the 15th of March. 



A new vine should not be placed in the precise spot whence 

 an old one has been removed, but the earth must be allowed 

 time to resume its natural vigour. 



The earth that is used to fill in the holes or trenches, should 

 be pulverized ; and in doing this, and in every other operation, 

 it is very desirable that the earth which has been meliorated 

 by the influence of the atmosphere, be placed at the bottom, so 

 as to be nearer to the roots. 



As a measure of economy, the trenches for planting may be 

 opened with a heavy plough, which can be run several times 

 in the same furrow, until it is of the requisite depth, and any 

 additional clearing out of the earth deemed necessary can be 

 done with the spade. 



In planting vines, the French writers recommend giving 

 them an oblique, or rather a curved position, by laying the 

 root across the bottom of the hole, and leaning the upper part 

 of it to one side, and assign the same reason as given for 

 planting cuttings obliquely. 



in all plantations of vines care should be taken that they 

 be as far as possible of uniform size and strength, as young 

 ones do not prosper to an equal degree when mingled with 

 older and stronger ones. 



If the ground has been well worked and prepared beforehand 

 the holes for planting the vines need not be more than a foot 



