BOOK III. XIV. 2-XV. 3 



and have no experience in the making of quicksets. 

 This kind of planting has been disapproved with 

 good reason by most vinedressers of Italy, because 

 the quickset is superior in very many particulars : 

 for it is less likely to die, since, because of its strength, 3 

 it has a readier endurance of heat and cold and other 

 kinds of weather ; and, in the next place, it reaches 

 maturity earlier. The result is that it also comes 

 more quickly into condition to bear fruit ; and besides, 

 there is no doubt that it is more generally trans- 

 planted." Still, a cutting may be set immediately in 

 loose and light ground, in place of a quickset ; but 

 ground that is compact and heavy certainly requires 

 a rooted vine. 



XV. The planting, then, is made preferably in pre- 

 pared ground that is well cleaned and harrowed and 

 levelled off, leaving five feet between the rows in 

 lean ground, and six feet in medium soil. But in fat 

 soil intervals of seven feet must be allowed, so as 

 to leave greater space of open ground over which 

 the numerous and far-reaching branches of firm 

 wood may spread themselves. This laying-out of 

 vineyards in quincunx arrangement is accomplished 

 by a very quick method : for a line is stitched with 

 purple or some other striking colour at intervals of the 

 same number of feet as you have determined upon for 

 the distance between rows; and when so marked it 

 is stretched along the dug ground, and a reed 

 is thrust in beside each bit of purple. In this way the 2 

 rows are equally spaced.* When this has been 

 done, the digger follows and, leaving spaces by turns 

 along the rows, he digs a trench from one reed to the 

 next, not less than two and one-half feet deep 

 on the level, two and three-fourths feet on sloping 



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