20 THE VINE-DKESSEK'S MANUAL. 



connection with this, here remark upon an erroneous 

 suggestion, which I have noticed in some agricultural 

 journals. They suggest a longer " stem." I do not 

 think that the stem should be much longer than twenty 

 inches, but think it of the first importance that the 

 foot roots should penetrate deeply. 



The ground intended for a vineyard should be well 

 manured the previous year, either by a coating of lime, 

 where that kind of manuring is proper, or by gypsum, 

 where it can be had ; or by ploughing under some green 

 sward, such as clover ; or at least by a good and thor- 

 ough coat of manure, straw, or even leaves. 



Of the ground thus prepared, the surface should, for 

 the depth of twelve inches at least, be sunk beneath 

 twelve inches of soil immediately underneath. This is 

 best done, if the ground be loamy, with the spade, or 

 if stony Avith the mattock. For this purpose a trench 

 is first dug four feet wide, and to the depth to which 

 the vine-dresser is going to spade up and trench his vine- 

 yard. Into this first trench, say four feet -wide and two to 

 four feet deep, and as long as the vineyard may be, say 

 two hundred feet, is then thrown twelve inches of the 

 surface soil (using the very best steel spades), and by 

 di-iving the spade into the ground as nearly perpendicu- 

 lar as possible, and not slanting, as lazy laborers are apt 

 to do ; for thus alone can this top soU be spaded up to 

 the depth of at least twelve inches. The loose soil 



