Mariposa Democrat., 1857-06-18

pursued IN tne preparation VI grouhu ior
vineyard, by means of trehching, affords every
facility for the putting down of understanding
The "tils drain" is far superior to any other.
Where there are quantities Of small stones, and
it is desirable to get them out of the way, they
can be placed along the side Of the tile drain,
thus adding to the efficacy of the drain. When
the soil contains any considerable portion Of
clay, the tile drains should be laid down every
sixteen feet And where the depth fixed upon
for trenching is two feet it is well to place the
drains five or six inches deeper.
Planting out the Vines-This is done either
by setting out the roots or cuttings. 1t is usual,
previous to commencing this operation, to mark
out the ground in rows, inserting short stake
10 or IS inches long at each spot where it is
proposed to establish grape vine. In many
vineyards the distance Of the rows apart and
the distance between the stakes in the rows,
is four feet IT. however, it is proposed to work
the vineyard with horse and cultivator, il is
better to have the distance between the rows
five feet, and the distance between the vines in
the rows three and half feet.
Preparatory to inserting the grape cuttings
a crow-bar should be set into the ground at
each stake, to the depth ofthe trenched ground,
and by slightly working the same hole of suf-
ficient size is made. The cutting is then in
serted, leaving the upper bud about on level
with the ground, and filling up the space around
the cutting with finely pulverized rich earth (;
and il a little rubbish can be inserted along
with this soil, so much the better. Any ar
rangement that shall slightly facilitate the in
gress Of the air through the soil alongside Of
the cutting will add to the chances of its liv.
ing
Some vineyard men insert two cuttings at
each place, designing, If both live, to remove
one. With proper care, however, and by Sc
lecting good cuttings, very few failures need be
expected, and, consequently, one cutting to a
place will be found sufficient. 1t is well 10
pour a quart of water on the soil in immediate
contact with the cutting when set out, and let
it permeate down alongside the sutting, affx-
ing the SOIL 10 tne same.
First and second gears work after Plant
ing.-The vineyard should be kept clear Of
weeds and the soil kept in good condition,
by carefully hocing over the ground twice du-
ring the season. No pruning is necessary for
the first two seasons.
Third Year.-Early in the spring, before
the sap starts, prune down to two buds on or
near the original cutting planted out Good
buds are frequently selected on some vigorous
offshoot, but near its base The ground
should also be removed from the plant to the
depth of six or seven inches, and all the roots
to that depth completely pruned of, and the
soil then replaced. This last operation is too
often neglected; but it is very important as it
induces the grapevine to throw out its strong
est roots at the bottom Of the trenched ground,
where the soil is the richest, and where, even
in drouth, moist nourishment is provided for
the plant Besides the lateral roots, when
permitted to put out near the surface, interfere
with the culture of the soil A good oak, ches-
nut, or locust stake five or six feet in length is
now driven firmly into the ground by the side
Of each grapevine, up which stake the two
shoots issuing from the two buds are carefully
trained during the summer, removing from the
same all side shoots. The two vines thus pro-
duced will frequently attain length of seven
or eight feet The vines are fastened to the
stakes by means of small bands of rye straw,
slightly dampened.
The ground should all be spaded or hooked
over to the depth of six inches in the spring
of each year, as soon as the ground attains
good condition for culture.
Fourth Year, or First Bearing Year
Early in the spring select the best vine of the
two, and, after shortening it down to three or
four feet, tie it with willow twigs to the stake.
The remaining vine is to be cut off within
two buds of its base; which two buds are to
be treated in the same manner as has been
stated in the third year.
The grapes are produced from the wood tied
in the show" form. And it may be remarked
that grapes are always produced on wood of
the precious years growth. The wood that
has served its purpose of bearing fruit this year
should be entirely removed nextsprng, it being
thenceforth useless and cumbersome.
Hence it will be perceived that a continual
renewal of youth is all the while going on
And vineyard may be fifty years old, and
yet, as the eye gances over it, it always rests
upon grape vines of this or last years growth.
Product ofan Acre.-We place the average
product per acre of a vineyard, from its first
bearing year onwards at 200 gallons of wine
per annum. Many writers, | am aware, place
the average much higher than this. But there
is such an anxiety in the human mind to ex-
aggerate, to select uncommon results and an
nounce them as common, that we feel errone-
GUS impressions have gone forth as to the pro-
fits of vineyards. We have seen it frequently
stated that 500 gallons per acre is only an
average product when, in fact, every such