176 THE GRAPE. 
RETARDING HOUSE. 
Attend to last month’s directions. 
MARCH. 
OUT-DOOR CULTURE. 
In all localities, excepting the extreme north, the roi 
will now be in a fit state for working, and no time should 
be lost in getting ready for planting. Ifthe land for vin- 
yard culture has an open, sandy, or gravelly —— 
where the water passes freely away, there will be n 
further preparation required than deep trenching, or sur- 
face ploughing, followed with a subsoil plough that will, 
at least, penetrate twenty inches deep,—if deeper, so much 
the better ; indeed, it ought to go down to the natural 
drainage. If the subsoil is heavy and stiff, the situation 
is inferior for the purpose, and artificial drains will more 
than repay the cost of making. 
_ Many persons think the older a vine is before planting, 
the sooner they will have a full crop of fruit. I have fre- 
quently talked with those who needed to be convinced 
that a three or four year old vine would not set and ripen 
plenty of bunches the same season it is planted. For the 
vineyard, either cuttings or one year old plants are best. 
The latter, all things considered, have the preference. It 
is far better to have an abundance of healthy roots, with — 
a small well-ripened stem, than the reverse. The plants 
may ee ea ct cree 
es mies a Yee ot erga - 
