SOIL AND CULTIVATION 21 
Put on a good mulch of manure in the fall, and 
the winter rains will wash a great deal of the 
nourishing qualities into the soil. In spring 
the manure can be turned under. This, too, 
will prevent your vines from getting run down 
too quickly. 
Cultivate the soil deeply and as often as 
possible, if you desire your vines to grow weli. 
This is very important; it should be done, at 
least, after every rain, although, of course, the 
oftener the better. Vines are deep rooters, 
therefore deep cultivation is preferable. Loosen 
up the top soil well with a digging fork, 
using a little care; do not go too close to the 
stem of the plants, as there you may find a few 
surface roots. 
Water is a very important factor in the growing 
of vines, and the first question that arises is, 
when is the proper time to apply water? In 
good, rainy seasons, it probably will not be 
necessary to apply any, but we all know that 
nine out of ten seasons, plants suffer a great deal 
from drought in this country. 
The common error made in the watering of 
vines is simply this: the vines receive no water 
until they are ready to flower. When the flower 
spike appears, the hose is hauled out of the cellar 
and watering started. Plants that flower bur 
