101 



soil at the base of the cutting is to pour into the hole before its in- 

 sertion about half a pannikinful or so of a mixture of soil, water, and 

 manure of about the consistency of treacle, the remainder of the soil 

 is then put in and well rammed. 



In stiff soils planting with the bar often gives unsatisfactory results, 

 as the soil becomes compressed on the sides of the hole and hardens 

 it to such an extent that the young roots can only spread with diffi- 

 culty. In such a case the hole should be made with a spade, and the 

 soil, which will greatly benefit by the addition of a little manure, 

 rammed in tightly with a rammer or with the foot. Should the soil be 

 very stiff, better results will be obtained by filling the hole around the 

 young plant with loose soil brought from elsewhere than with the soil 

 taken out of the hole. If the soil be very sandy, the addition of a 

 spadeful of good manure to the soil taken out of the hole will greatly 

 facilitate the strike. When planting, it will be found advantageous to 

 employ several men, each of whom has his special work to do. The 

 best vigneron should ram the soil around the cuttings, this being the 

 operation requiring most attention in order to insure a good strike. 



Sometimes two cuttings are planted in each hole in case one does 

 not strike. If both strike, one should be removed before it has 

 attained considerable development so as not to allow its removal to 

 interfere with the roots of the one which is to remain. 



In very dry districts only one bud should be left above ground, 

 which should be covered with a small heap of sand or very loose soil 

 to protect it from atmospheric influences until the commencement of 

 vegetation. 



PLANTATION IN A NURSERY. 



If it be intended to plant rooted vines a nursery should be formed. 



The site for which must be selected with care ; a loose but not too 

 sandy a soil is to be preferred for this purpose. If irrigation be 

 possible so much the better. Above all, the land must be thoroughly 

 drained. The cuttings to be planted in a nursery may be 2 or 3 inches 

 shorter than would be necessary for those to be planted in the vine- 

 yard ; in other respects the same rules hold good. The cuttings 

 should be planted perpendicularly, and rammed as tightly as possible, 

 especially at their base. 



The proper distance apart for cuttings in a nursery is 2ft. Gin. by 

 Gin. or 3ft. by 6in., as it leaves room to cultivate ; they can, however, 



