1 Ave., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL: JOURNAL. 209: 
Pranrine.—Frequently the writer is asked the question, ‘Do you advise 
planting rooted vines or cuttings?” The answer depends to a considerable 
extent upon the individual circumstances. Generally speaking, the writer 
prefers planting cuttings to rooted vines, making a small nursery of each variety 
planted, to fill in blanks the following winter. Not much time is saved in 
planting rooted vines, as the transplanting, unless done very carefully, throws 
the young vines back; and it frequently happens that at the end of the season 
the rooted vines havenot made much more growth than cuttings would have 
done. ‘There are, however, occasions when it is advisable to plant rooted vines, 
as when the soil is of a heavy, sticky nature in which cuttings are apt to fail 
to strike, and also when planting varieties which are bad strikers, such as some 
of the American hybrids—likewise when the area to be planted is small and it 
is desired that there shall be no replanting—rooted vines are advisable ; but 
when it is a matter of several acres, the vigneron will find that it adds con- 
siderably to the expense of laying out his vineyard if, instead of having to make 
several thousand holes with a bar, he has to make them with a shovel. The 
question of cuttings versus rooted vines resolves itself practically into one of 
uniformity versus expense, which must be decided by the bankbook. 
The distance between vines and between the rows must be governed by the 
nature of the soil and the average rainfall. Where rainfall is wanting, the 
distance between rows must be increased, and where plentiful it can be 
diminished up to a certain point. It is obvious that there is a greater amount 
of evaporation from the leaves of 1,000 vines to the acre than from the leaves 
of 500 vines if planted the same distance between each other; and an evapora- 
tion in excess of supply means stunted wood, leaf apoplexy, and shrivelled, 
badly ripened berries. The same reason holds good when the fertility of the 
soil is taken into consideration, unless indeed consistent manuring is resorted 
to, which is never done in Queensland. The fact that 2,000 or more vines are 
planted to the acre in Europe does not affect the argument one zota, for there 
the rainfall is a constant factor, and manuring is made a science; besides which 
the average crop from one acre of 2,000 vines there, is not greatly in excess of 
that from 700 vines in good soil in Australia. 
A good average distance is 6 feet between the vines and 10 feet between 
the rows, giving 60 square feet per vine, or about 700 vines to the acre. Some 
favour 8 feet by 8 feet, giving 64 square feet. The objection the writer has to 
this distance is, that if the trellised vines are to be pruned on the double Guyot 
or on the Royat systems, the length of wood becomes excessive, and the vine is 
apt to balance badly. If vines are 8 feet apart, the Bordelaise espalier or 
double cordon becomes obligatory for short-pruned vines; and this system has, 
in the writer’s opinion, many objections, which have been dealt with in an 
article on pruning. For the Royat or unilateral cordon and double Guyot or 
double fruit branch systems, 6 feet between the vines is quite sufficient. 
Advocates of the 8 feet by 8 feet distance also overlook the fact that, in 
reducing the distance between the rows and increasing it between the vines, 
they are practically increasing the number of vines and consequent evaporation 
per acre. For if the vines extend to each other, they form a continuous line 
of vegetation, and, so far as evaporation is concerned, might be planted 8 feet 
6 feet, or 4 feet apart. For bush-pruned vines it 1s immaterial what distance 
is chosen, so that the number per acre be kept within bounds. 
Tf the vines are to be trellised, the rows should be in the direction of the 
prevailing winds ; and if the site is on a slope of loose so liable to wash, the 
rows should be across the slope to prevent it. It will happen, however, that 
the two latter recommendations cannot be followed out together, and one will 
have to be neglected in favour of the other according to local circumstances. 
To plant a vineyard with the utmost regularity should be the aim of the 
vieneron, as its cultivation is rendered easier and its general appearance made 
pleasing to the eye. To do so, he should have two wire lines, say, 4 or 5 
chains long; on one, knots of solder are fixed at the same intervals that the 
vines are intended to be apart, and on the other at the distances intended 
