114: THE GEAPE CULTURIST. 



be readily divided so as to be made to intermingle with 

 the roots. Nor will it do to plant when the soil is parched 

 and dry ; but it should be in that moist and friable condi- 

 tion which allows it to be easily worked. 



ROOT PRUNING. 



However carefully vines are taken up from the nursery, 

 the ends of a greater portion of the roots will be broken 

 off. These should be cut smoothly before planting. It is 

 also beneficial to shorten the roots considerably, especially 

 if they are long and destitute of branching fibers. Two 

 feet is long enough to leave any root upon a two or three 

 year-old vine ; longer ones should be cut off, not only to 

 render them more convenient for planting, but to incite the 

 main roots to throw out new ones from their ends as well 

 as from their sides. The soil will thereby become filled 

 with feeding roots instead of a few long naked ones, that 

 have no power of absorbing food except through the small 

 fibers which exist only at their extreme ends. The soil 

 within the radius occupied by these long roots is useless so 

 far as furnishing nutriment is concerned, because they are 

 not capable of absorbing it. It will often be necessary to 

 shorten the roots to less than two feet, and it is best to cut 

 off a portion of the ends, no matter what their length may 

 be. For it is not the length or number of roots that deter- 

 mines the quality of the vine, but their condition. If long, 

 soft, spongy, and unripened wood and roots are left upon 

 the vine, they are of but little benefit to it at best, and they 

 will often die, and in their decay communicate disease to 

 the other and more healthy portions of the plant. This is 

 particularly the case with layers their roots being pro- 

 duced late in the season, they are seldom ripened to their 

 full length ; hence the necessity for severely shortening 

 their roots. And here, I believe, is the chief cause of so 

 much discussion upon the value of layered plants. Those 



