PLANTING THE VINE. 113 



CHAPTER XIII. 



PLANTING THE VINE 



THERE seems to be as great a diversity of opinion among 

 vineyardists in regard to the best time to plant as there is 

 upon the various details connected with planting. My own 

 rule is to plant vines in the fall whenever circumstances 

 will permit me to do so ; but if it is not convenient to 

 plant at that time, then I do the next best thing that is, 

 plant them so soon in the spring as the soil is in a condi- 

 tion to permit of it. I prefer planting in the fall, because 

 the soil becomes settled about their roots, and all wounds 

 made upon them in the process of transplanting will, in a 

 great measure, become healed, and very often new roots 

 will issue before the ground would permit of the vines 

 being planted in the spring. Thus they become all ready 

 to commence growing as soon as the frost is out of the 

 ground. 



The buds will commence swelling at the first approach 

 of warm weather, and they are then very brittle and liable 

 to be broken off. 



I think, as a general thing, vines planted in the fall will 

 make at least one third more growth the first season than 

 when planted in spring. In very cold localities, or in soils 

 that are naturally tenacious and heavy, spring planting is 

 perhaps preferable to fall. But it should be a maxim with 

 the vineyardist : never put off until another season that 

 which may be safely done in the present. 



The condition of the soil must in part govern us in this 

 operation, for it will not do to plant the vines when the 

 soil is soaked with water, for in that condition it can not 



