112 THE CULTURE OF THE GEAPE. 



about threo inches under the surface, and three to four 

 feet apart ; if the border is only twelve feet wide, five 

 feet is near enough, or, if very large bunches and grapes 

 are desired, without regard to the quantity produced, 

 they should never be nearer together than four feet, be 

 the border narrow or wide. If the house has been built 

 on posts, as directed, let the head of the vine, after plant- 

 ing, bo three inches from the front, on the inside, — the 

 roots being on the outside. If the vines are filanted in 

 the fall, they should be cut back to three eyes imme- 

 diately ; but, if planted in the spring, they must be al- 

 lowed to grow until the shoots are one inch long, when 

 rub off all but the three lower shoots.* 



VINES TOE PLANTING. 



The vines for planting should be in pots, and one or 

 two years old ; before planting, they should be kept 

 quite dry a few days, as the roots are more easily sepa- 

 rated. 



If the plants are growing, leave off watering them 

 until they begin to droop, when jou can plant them out ; 

 the risk of injuring them will be lessened, and the free 



open border; when the vines are planted on the inside, the roots will 

 grow with rapidity, and push as straight as possible for the border outside 

 of the house, thus proving that they prefer to be under the influence of the 

 full effects of the sun, air, and rain upon the soil. 



Do not shake the vine after planting, as sometimes advised ; it can do no 

 good, and will probably break some of the rootlets. 



* If the border is in a suitable condition, the vines do equally well when 

 planted at any time after the fall of the leaf If they are in pots, I know 

 of CO reason why they may not be planted at any season of the year. 



