248 TH E VINEYARD. [March. 
and covered with earth to within two inches of their tops, where 
they are to remain till you are ready to plant them; covering them 
in frosty or parching weather, with some loose, dry litter, which is to 
be taken off every mild day, that they may the more effectually be in- 
ured to the open air. This is the best method of preserving them, 
even during the entire winter. I do not approve of keeping cut- 
tings, for any length of time, in close, dark, un ventilated cellars; for 
in such places they become weak, blanched, tender and sickly, and 
seldom succeed well when planted out; besides, they have nothing to 
imbibe, whilst there, but foul air, which vitiates their juices, and 
brings on diseases and bad health. 
Method of Planting. 
Having your ground prepared, and marked out with stakes as 
before directed, and your cuttings in readiness; so soon after the 
middle of this month, as you find the soil dry and in good order, 
proceed to planting in the following manner: — Take up a number 
of your cuttings carefully, without injuring the buds, and place 
them in a bucket of dung water, about six inches deep, the bucket 
having a handle for the convenience of carrying it from place to 
place: then, at each stake, make a hole with a spade, about a foot 
deep, and as wide as you please, but it will be better to have all 
these holes made the day before you commence planting; into each 
put one strong cutting, placing it a little sloping, and so deep, that 
the second bud from the top, may be just on a level with the gene- 
ral surface; immediately fill the hole with earth, pressing it gently 
with your feet to the cutting, and drawing the loose earth round, so 
as to cover the second bud. before noticed, half an inch deep; which 
bud so protected, will frequently make the most vigorous shoot, and 
often succeed, when the top bud, exposed to the weather will not; 
then drive down the stake, so as to make it firm, within three inches 
of the plant. 
If your cuttings are not extremely good and fresh, and such as 
may be depended on, it will be the more certain way to plant two in 
each hole, the tops within a few inches of each other, and the lower 
ends sloping in opposite directions, for the greater convenience, if 
both should succeed, of removing one, without disturbing the other; 
these extra plants may be made use of next season, to fill up vacan- 
cies, or to form a new plantation. 
Cuttings are generally preferred for this purpose to rooted plants, 
as they are thought to establish themselves more effectually when 
not removed; however, when such are to be planted, keep their 
roots out of ground but as short a time as possible; and if immersed 
when taken up, in a pap of earth and water, or dung and water, the 
better: plant them in the same manner as directed for the cuttings, 
pruning their heads, and observing to place their roots, after first 
shortening any long stragglers, in a spreading manner in the earth, 
and then cover them up as before. 
It is necessary that each particular kind of grape should be 
planted in separate quarters, that they may all be gathered, when 
