94 



HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



itself and thrive moderately well in a greater variety 

 of soils and situations than almost any other fruit tree. 

 In selecting a site for a vineyard, a cool aspect should 

 have the preference in the warmer parts of the colony, 

 and the soil (not too heavy) should either be on a 

 porous subsoil or so situated as to admit of thorough 

 underground drainage. Some red loams are excellent 

 for grapes, and a fair proportion of small stones in a 

 soil would be no disadvantage. The plantation or bor- 

 der should be trenched to an uniform depth of two feet 

 six inches, or certainly not less than two feet, and 

 drained at least six inches deeper than it is trenched, if 

 the soil requires draining, which can be ascertained in 

 the manner previously indicated. Deep cultivation 

 and a porous subsoil, or thorough drainage, are the 

 indispensable conditions of permanent success in vine- 

 growing. 



Some of the early planted vineyards in Melbourne 

 were made in conformity with the recommendations 

 contained in the Government Prize Essay on the sub- 

 ject — the land was only prepared by being ploughed. 

 The folly of such mismanagement soon became manifest 

 by the miserable appearance and decreasing production 

 of such plantations. For the first few years after 

 planting all went well, and there was abundant promise 

 of future returns ; but as soon as the roots reached the 

 undisturbed soil, and the vines had attained an age at 

 which a full crop was to be expected, they began to 

 languish, the produce decreased, and it became evident 

 that one acre of vineyard properly trenched and drained 

 was more valuable than ten acres ploughed in. 



One-year-old rooted plants should be obtained where 

 practicable ; they should be placed in the soil at the 

 same depth they had previously been in the nursery, 

 and at distances according to the mode of pruning and 

 training intended to be adopted. If for close pruning, 

 and training to single posts, they may be planted four 

 feet by six feet apart, or six feet by eight ; but, if for 



