New Yokk Ageicultueal Expeeiment Station. 531 



that soil as to texture, drainage and fertility, and the possibility 

 of washing. It is true that certain varieties exhibit a soil prefer- 

 ence, but most commercial varieties will thrive on many types of 

 soil. 



Drainage. — The first essential is that there be good drainage. 

 The cultivated grape does not thrive with its roots continuously in 

 water, though it be more tolerant in this respect than most fruits. 

 A natural conclusion prevails that sloping land is well drained ; 

 yet this is not always true. Especially where the soil is shallow, 

 an impervious rock or hardpan below may form basins or 

 " kettle •' holes in which water is retained and the soil becomes 

 saturated, as the water must rise to the surface to escape. Under 

 such conditions, a slope is as badly water-logged and as poorly 

 drained as a lowland area. If there be not good drainage, the field 

 should be tiled. 



Preparation of soil. — In the preparation of the soil for setting 

 grape vines the grower should exercise the greatest care. A little 

 thought and work before setting will pay for themselves many times 

 over. As a general rule it is poor practice to reset to grapes, land 

 that has just been in vineyard, without putting under a good green 

 manure crop two or three times before planting. "When it is desired 

 to reset land where a vineyard has been pulled out, or even where 

 a new location is selected, sow mammoth clover in August and 

 plow this under just before it blossoms the following summer; 

 then seed it again to clover and plow it under the following spring, 

 when ready to plant. Deep turning under of a green manure crop, 

 followed by thorough dragging and rolling, puts the soil in the 

 best of tilth. Once gotten in good tilth after thorough preparation, 

 it is far easier to maintain in good condition than without such 

 .preparation. 



In fitting the field, preparatory to planting, plow as deeply as 

 possible, with a two-horse plow, into lands eight or nine feet 

 wide — the width depending on the distance apart which the 

 rows are to be. This will leave dead furrows eight or nine feet 

 apart. Then with a subsoil plow, go twice through each dead 

 furrow. Much of the soil loosened by the subsoiler can now be 

 thrown out by again going through each furrow with the two-horse 

 plow, once each way. This insures deep planting and increases 

 greatly the area for root growth. 



Vines. — The selection of vines is an im,portant part in the 

 foundation of the vineyard. Too often it is neglected altogether, 



