CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 105 



as I think, sufficient for all practical purposes. On the 

 hillside, the side-hill plough will throw the surface fur- 

 row so far down the hill as to give full space to work the 

 subsoil. This work of ploughing should be done in the 

 fall. If, however, the compost is not in readiness in 

 the fall, it may be spread in the spring, and worked in 

 by a second surface-ploughing. 



In case the situation is a hillside, the question of ter- 

 racing will arise. Undoubtedly this may be advantageous 

 in some cases. Narrow terraces, supported by a stone 

 wall, or even a grass sod, will prevent wash, and give 

 the vine a warm and protected exposure; but this ex- 

 tra expense will not be warranted except the situa- 

 tion is very steep, so that the wash will prove excessive. 

 A partial terracing may be done without great expense, 

 provided a sufficient quantity of stones, from one to 

 two feet in diameter, is at hand. A single course of 

 such stones running in parallels along the face of the 

 hills, and just behind each row of vines, will be a 

 great help in preventing wash. On many hillsides, it 

 would not prove tedious, or very expensive, to throw 

 narrow terraces when the greater part of the work 

 can be done with the plough, the bank and other fin- 

 ishing work being left for the shovel. In such a case, 



