THE GRAPE. 



43 



Soil.— The best soil for a vineyard is a rich gravelly or sandy 

 loam, with an open clay sub-soil ; but a somewhat clayey loam will 

 do very well if sufficiently drained to remove any excess of mois- 

 ture. Before planting the land should be thoroughly prepared by 

 plowing and harrowing until in the best condition. Where there is 

 not good surface drainage, as on some prairie farms, it will be 

 found a good plan to plant the vines on ridges made by turning six 

 furrows back to back. In other locations the land should be kept 

 smooth. 



The Best Vines for planting are strong one-year or thrifty 

 two-year-old plants from layers or cuttings, and only those having 

 a good root system should be used. Plants more than three years 

 old are not desirable, as young, thrifty plants soon outgrow those 

 that are old and large when transplanted. It matters little about 

 the direction of the rows, they should be laid out so as to prevent 

 the wash as much as possible. 



Fig. 30.— .4 rooted layer. Each bud making a new plant. 



The Distance Between the Plants will depend somewhat 

 on the kinds planted, the manner of pruning and the soil; but the 

 strong growing varieties, which are most desirable, should gener- 

 ally be set ten by ten feet apart each way, to allow for the growth 

 of roots and a. good circulation of air between the vines. When 

 the vineyard is much shut in it will be found advantageous to in- 

 crease this distance, but when located in an airy position and on 

 retentive soil the plants may be set eight by eight feet. 



Planting.— The most rapid way of planting is to furrow out 

 the land both ways and put the vines at the intersection of the fur- 

 rows. Before planting the tops of the vines should be cut oil so as 

 to leave only two or three buds, and if the roots are very long it 

 will facilitate planting to cut them back to eight or ten inches in 

 length; shortening the roots to this extent does not seem to injure 

 the growth of the plant. On light soil it is exceedingly important 

 to get the roots down deep in the land, and the holes should be 

 made large enough to allow the lower roots to come about fifteen 

 inches below the surface. The top loam should be put around the 

 roots, but the plants should not be covered at once more than two 

 inches deeper than they grew in the nursery. The soil should be 



