the roots spread out without confusion, the stalk near at hand to tiie 

 stake, and the first eye, counting from the roots, 4 inches lower than 

 the surface of the ground. Not a root should be cut or shortened, 

 unless it has been broken and damaged. The strongest stem or stalk 

 is the only one to be left outwards ; all others must be laid down aa 

 if they were roots. These small trenches are then loosely filled with 

 the earth that had been removed from them, as the eyes of the plant 

 Avill thereby run less risk through the winter. 



This manner of setting out young Vines allows the roots a full 

 chance of penetrating the soil in every direction, and the heat of the 

 sun reaches them gradually and more thoroughly. In the spring as 

 soon as the weather is favourable, the earth should be cleared down 

 a little from the young plants, so as to lower the level of the soil 

 collected about the stake, and the stems or branches upon the main- 

 stem are to be pruned ; only one good eye is left ; the knife is laid as- 

 lant, and the wood is cut sloping backwards opposite to the eye that 

 is kept, and about the third of an inch above it. The shoots as soon 

 as they grow long enouifh should be tied to the stake ; there should 

 not be allowed more than two to each Vine. 



The following year, these two shoots have now become woody 

 stems ; they too are pruned down to a single eye. But should there 

 have been only one sprout, the pruning-knife must leave upon it two 

 eyes. From these, there will, accordingly, be two shoots, and when 

 Ihey are 18 inches long, they must be topped, and tied ; the wood by 

 this, becomes the stronger. 



In the spring of the fourth year, which is when the Vine buds for 

 the third time, the posts are to be set up where the stakes stood. 

 The two stems are then to be pruned, one to 5 and the other to 6 

 eyes. They are to be turned spirally around their prop, both in the 

 same direction, leaving about 3 or 4 inches interval between each 

 twist. Each of the stems are to be tied fast. The two uppermost 

 shoots also, are tied, and topped when they are large enough. Some 

 fruit is borne this season. As for the posts they should be round, 

 strong, straight, 6 inches in thickness and 9 feet in height ; of locust 

 for dry, light soils, and chesnut or heart of oak for others. The end 

 that is put in the ground should be thick painted with melted pitch. 

 In the fifth year the pyramids begin to take a form ; according to the 

 taste, they may be made triangular, square, five or six-sided, but a 

 circular form is preferable ; having no saliant points it is not inconve- 

 nient like the others. The two uppermost stems are pruned as before, 

 and with them, the spiral, always in the same direction, is continued. 

 The other stems, which are called side-runners^ are cut down to three 

 eyes and are left gadding, 



