PEEPAEATION OF THE GROUND. 25 



vineyard eacli yeax, for three years, one hoeing, at 

 least, and you get a good crop in the fourth year. 

 Your vines grow up regular, as in such a vineyard but 

 few miss ; and lastly, let me say to you, that having 

 started right, you are apt to keep right, and are there- 

 fore every way sure to have a good vineyard. 



HOW TO MARK OUT A VINEYARD, AND GET I* READY 

 FOR THE VINES. 



The ground being properly prepared and settled, as 

 previously suggested, the next thing to be done is the 

 staking out of the vineyard. To do this, it is well to 

 prepare as many little marking sticks (say twelve inches 

 long and half an inch square, pointed at one end) as 

 there are to be grapehills in the vineyard ; for instance, 

 an acre planted four feet apart each way, about 2,200 

 hiUs. 



The next thing to determine is, how far apart it is in- 

 tended to have the rows. There is no settled rule upon 

 this subject. I have seen, in Europe, thrifty vineyards 

 one foot apart, and I have seen them ten feet apart.. 

 The four by four may, however, be said to be the pre- 

 vailing and most approved custom. I have myseM' 

 lately adopted five by five, and I like the appearaiacs! 

 of it very well. In Italy, I am told, vines are plaaaiiedl 



