50 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



small outlay is never bought or planted ; they seem possessed with the 

 idea that such choice fruit is to them a forbidden thing. 



There are however many noble exceptions to this rule — homes 

 where not only the grape, but the sweet cherry, the luscious pear, the 

 plum, and other choice fruits are gathered and used freely as home ne- 

 cessities. 



Most of our ideas of grape culture have been derived from hot- 

 house practice. The necessity of a thorough preparation of the soil by 

 deep culture, under-draining, and expensive manuring has been held as 

 an absolute prerequisite, until many who would have entered upon its 

 practice, in a small way at least, have been driven from it and their at- 

 tention given to some seemingly easier pursuit. 



Now, on the contrary, those who have been, and still are advocates 

 for the old practice or a near approach to it are held by many modern 

 cultivators in derision ; they point exultingly to vineyards which with 

 only such cultivation as one should give a well prepared cornfield are 

 making splendid returns for the labor and capital employed. 



I believe that the deeper an*d the better the preparation, all else be- 

 ing equal, the better will be the final result. So vigorous and hardy are 

 many of the varieties now in cultivation that they will surmount neglect 

 and produce good returns even under no treatment; superficial observers 

 are thus led to draw erroneous conclusions and decry all methods 

 when they see success so easily attained. 



As to what soil is best adapted to the growth of the vine, let me say 

 that any soil well prepared will give satisfactory results. The very best 

 success can only be secured however by understanding well the wants 

 of the vine, and then creating as near an approach to that condition as 

 possible. Vines succeed best in loose, friable soils, such as do not retain 

 water, and where the drainage is good ; if then you have a retentive 

 soil or a subsoil that is compact, so that the drainage is imperfect you 

 should so far as possible remedy those defects. I do not attempt to 

 give you explicit directions for each peculiar soil, but only state a gene- 

 ral rule. To you who would plant for home use, I would not be under- 

 stood as saying that you cannot grow grapes without Complying with 

 these conditions ; thex will i;nnv if you 7oi/l plant t/iem, though placed 

 under the most unfavorable conditions; but I repeat, the better the pre- 

 paration the better the result. Something is gained by the growing of 

 the grape besides the fruit. I hesitate not to say that 1 think the cul- 

 ture of the grape is the most instructive branch of Horticulture. Once 

 well understood and practiced it attracts and stimulates the most neg- 

 ligent and slothful. It hunhhe?, practical cdncafion, the result of a close 

 study of the habits and growth of the vine, with the pruning and train- 

 ing necessary for the best results. The practical education thus com- 

 menced, stu-died, and applied, is founded upon a great principle alike 

 suited to orchard trees as to the vine, producing in either case similar 

 results. This prinri])lc kept constantly in view and carried out in the 



