PLANTING THE VINE. 117 



tie soil as you proceed, to hold them in position. "When 

 all the roots are properly distributed, then fill up the holes, 

 pressing down the soil with the foot the weight of a man 

 will not be too much pressure to give the soil over the 

 roots. It requires two men to work to advantage in plant- 

 ing, one to place tlie vine in position and spread out the 

 root, and another to put in the earth. Fig. 37 shows the 



. Fig. 37. 



form of the hole, with the stake and vine in position, ready 

 to be filled up. The roots should always descend a little 

 from the stem to their farthest point, and in pressing down 

 the soil upon them, it should be given the same pressure, 

 as near as may be, along their whole length. If the vines 

 are planted in the fall, then a small mound of earth should 

 be made around the stem, so as to protect two or three 

 buds above those that would be covered if the ground were 

 made level. But when the vines are planted in the spring, 

 the hole need not be filled quite full, but a shallow basin 

 may be left about the stem so that the rains shall more 

 readily reach the roots. This basin around the vine may 

 be filled when the vine gets well started into growth. 

 When the buds begin to push into growth, select the 

 strongest and rub the others off; a bud near the ground 

 is preferable to one that is a foot above, and this is one 



