2

Some few vines have been planted, and another year may give us
fruit.

The number of plants proper to be set on an acre, will of course
depend upon the distance between the vines - Circumstances must
control that - If the Vintager has but little land &high price,
he will be justified in crowding the vines closer than if the reverse
should be the case - Nearly every one will have his own ideas & be governed
by different reasons in setting his plants - The thrifty vigorous growers
such as the Concords & Ives, require more room than would the Delawares
or Rebeccas - The better rule to observe will be to give room, and in for-
ming a vineyard have a pass way at convenient distances for carts or wag-
gons to convey off the fruit, as well as to supply the land with manures.
I think 7 feet by 7 feet, ample, leaving each alternate tenth row for
a pass way - say 10 feet wide - The accompaning table will give you
the number of vines planted pr acre, according to the distance there
indicated.

The expense pr acre of planting & cultivating will vary according to
prices of labour & condition & preparation of the land - If you trench
the land as done in Germany, France & by some Vintagers in the U.S. a very
large sum may be so expended - and the longevity of the Vine may be then
promoted - I do not believe the advange of trenching (unless upon wet
soil which should never be selected [selected] for vines) will justify the increa-
sed outlay & trouble - We have fully demonstrated that grape roots planted
as you woould an ordinary shrub not only fruits well but lives longer than
the time biblically allotted to man of three score and ten . You want a deep, loose
soil - which preparation can be attained by the use of a heavy plough drawn
by three horses, followed by a subsoil plough & [?] drawn by two or
three horses - which if well done will give a depth of 16 or 18 inches.