2l8 ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



WHAT DISTANCE APART SHOULD VINES BE PLANTED? 



I believe six feet each way is better than a greater distance 

 for wine. France and Germany plant much closer, and it is 

 contended that a less distance will produce more sugar to the 

 acre and make better wine. There all labor is performed with 

 spade, hoe and hand; here all labor should be performed by 

 the plow, cultivator and horse; there labor is cheap; here it is 

 high. Six feet apart each way gives plenty of room to perform 

 this labor by horse power. To plant wider apart will produce 

 larger grapes and larger bunches, and for raisins, where this is 

 desirable, it may be proper. It, too, gives space to dry raisins 

 among the vines; but for wine small grapes are preferred, and 

 per acre there will be a larger yield six by six than eight by 

 eight feet, although to the vine there will be more the greater the 

 distance apart they are planted. Having planted one square, 

 the planting of the others will only be a repetition of the first, 

 and will be easy sailing. 



After having planted the cuttings, I cut them all back, say 

 to six inches above the ground; for the less above ground the 

 more readily will they grow, there being less evaporation from 

 the cutting. 



IS IRRIGATION A BENEFIT TO YOUNG VINES? 



In ordinary seasons of rainfall, I think not; and it entails 

 much work and expense for irrigation for irrigation brings 

 weeds, and each irrigation should be followed by plowing. 

 Young vines require no water, for the evaporation from their 

 leaves, there being but few leaves, as the plant is small, is but 

 little; whereas they have six feet square of ground for their 

 reservoir to draw from, and that quantity of soil contains enough 

 water, if the water is retained by cultivation, and foreign vegeta- 

 tion, as weeds, prevented from absorbing it, to nourish and 

 maintain the vine in full vigor and largest growth. Irrigation 

 will be beneficial when vines are in full bearing and growth, in 

 keeping them in vigor and health, and in producing each year 

 large crops, although grape vines will flourish and bear for a 

 term of years without irrigation. 



CAN GRAPES BE GROWN WITHOUT IRRIGATION? 



This can be answered with certainty,yes. Some soils are 

 more favorable than others, but every soil that with rain will 

 grow anything, will grow the grape vines without irrigation and 

 produce grapes. In observing different plants which grow, we 

 find a great difference in the quantity of water required by dif- 

 ferent varieties or species of vegetable life. Though a product 

 be almost entirely composed of water is no evidence that such 

 fruit or plant requires much water. For instance, many kinds 



