44 



which gives a chance to select the strongest and most forward sUps 

 Before transplanting them, isolated pits, or what is better, trenches, 

 the whole length of the intended line should be opened, of a depth 

 and width according to the nature of the soil; if it is very meagre, 

 they should be both deep and wide ; the roots will have to travel far. 

 and put under contribution a greater superficies ; in these parts, the 

 trench is made about 2 feet deep, and feet wide. In good soil, 

 a foot and a half of depth against a foot of breadth is sufficient. 

 When placing the new slip in the trench, care must be taken to pul- 

 verize the soil that is to cover the roots ; the vegetable earth on the 

 surface is to be turned down upon them ; that v/hich, having been 

 underneath, has not been mellowed by exposure to the air, is unfit 

 to give them a favorable start. Very old stocks are slow of growth, 

 and bear no good wood for cuttings, which should be taken from se- 

 ven or eight year old Vines ; the last year's shoots are not proper 

 for this purpose ; it is the two year old wood that is found preferable 

 in every point of view ; the best time for setting them out is when 

 the ground is not over moist. Where there is a rocky bottom near 

 at hand, [in which we counsel the use of the auger,] the roots will 

 not speedily take the same volume as m good, fair soil ; therefore at 

 the bottom of the pit in which the slip is to be set, moistened ashes 

 should be laid, which keeps up the freshness of the ground, pre- 

 venting the baking and reflected heat from withering and drying the 

 thinly covered roots. 



Our Vine-growers are so oppressed by imposts, that they are obli- 

 ged to increase their income by continually renewing their Vines. 

 It is a pity that this necessity exists ; the aged Vines, it is true, are 

 scant bearers, and the fruit is very small ; but the wine is always of a 

 very superior quaUty. Young Vines are full of fruit, but the wine 

 from them is inferior ; still it is very profitable, and though less flavo- 

 rous, furnishes abimdantly for distillation. A proof of this difference 

 I may give ; the wines of Clos-Vougeot ( Cote d'Or.) which are so very 

 fine and choice, have diminished in value, since the frequently hun- 

 dred-year-old stocks have been grubbed up and new ones planted. 



It has been stated that trees were injurious in Vineyards ; the ques- 

 tion now is, are all other kinds of vegetation equally improper. All 

 kinds of vegetables are hurtful when the Vines are planted in close 

 rows. Lentils and lupins are never injurious. All sorts of grain 

 beans, pease and potatoes, injure the Vines more or less according 

 to the vigor with which each drains the soil, or the poor or rich 

 nature of the ground. It is astonishing how much they will throw 

 back a Vineyard in the first three years of its plantation. It is bet- 



