306 
STATE AGEICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 
of Champagne, the hills of Burgundy, or the slopes of Medoc; 
nor would it do to conclude that manure should not be ap¬ 
plied, for although some say that it is hurtful to the wine in 
its quality, it is yet an open question whether this is so or not. 
Meanwhile the practice is to manure, although sparingly. 
PEEPAEING THE GEOUND, PLANTING THE VINES. 
This is probably as well understood in America as in France. 
We usually break up to the depth of two feet and drain thor¬ 
oughly. In many parts of France they trench to the same 
depth, but in many parts this is impracticable, unnecessary or 
injurious. Here, the distance between the vines is from eight¬ 
een inches to two feet, according to their size. We, however, 
are compelled, by the greater vigor of our vines, to place them 
five and six feet apart. \ 
In Burgundy, Champagne and some other districts it is the 
practice to renew the vigor of the vines by laying down the 
cane and rooting the plant in a new place, which quite breaks 
up the original lines so the plough cannot be used. This is 
doubtless a good way to renew the strength of the plant, but 
% 
it is objected to by high authority, on the assumption that the 
older the stalk is the better the wine would be; on 
the other hand. Champagne wine dressers have attributed to 
this practice, in a great measure, their almost total exemption 
from the vine disease. 
But then, again, others attribute that exemption to the gen¬ 
eral and long established custom of spreading over the vine¬ 
yards a bituminous shale containing sulphur, a well known 
antidote ; and here we would recommend most strongly to our 
countrymen a renewed and sustained effort to combat mildew 
with sulphur. The experience of France and other countries 
is entirely in its favor, and its use is still felt to be necessary 
and is still kept up. 
We think Americans have not been thorough enough and 
patient enough. Let them try again, and this time let them 
begin early and be sure to follow carefully these rules on the 
subject, which have been hitherto much better promulgated than 
