46 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[February , 



the Gulf stream, milder than ours, the region 

 in which grapes may ripen in the open air is ex- 

 tended to the 52d degree, and by way of excep- 

 tion even, as far north as the 60th in Sweden. 

 The ground on which they are planted is no- 

 where dry, but well drained, either naturally or 

 artificiall}', and well protected against cold, di-y 

 winds. To plant a grape vine or a vineyard on 

 dry land is so contrary to the nature of the vine, 

 that it is hard to understand how so fallacious 

 an idea ever could become so general. As to 

 soil, we find no plant so indifferent as the grape- 

 vine, and in its natural selection it evidently 

 shuns dry land, but chooses the banks of streams 

 often overflowing, and luxuriates in rather shaded 

 positions overhung by trees ; the fruit ripening 

 where it is screened from the direct touch of the 

 sun by both the vine and the tree to which it 

 clings. Thus the foliage never suffers from dry- 

 ness of the air, nor the roots from dryness of the 

 soil, and this circumstance ought to be a hint 

 and guide to vine growers •, the more so since 

 they always find on their own vines, the best 

 grapes hidden under the leaves, whilst those 

 that are exposed to the sun invariably are smaller 

 in size of bunch and berry, thick skinned and 

 often som-. It appears, therefore, that to grow 

 the vine on dry soil, fully exposed to the rays of 

 the sun and the current of dry winds is alto- 

 gether wrong, and if we look for information to 

 Europe, we will find that where the summers 

 are hot and dry, like ours, the vines are allowed 

 to grow to trees, and such varieties selected as 

 are unsuitable for the manufacture of such wines 

 as are preferred by modern and refined lovers of 

 a good glass that gladdens the heart. It is just 

 that same access of heat and dryness of the at- 

 mosphere, though not as great as with us, which 

 is the predicament under which the vineyeardists 

 in California labor, and which makes their wines 

 so harsh and strong, that nobody ever will like 

 nor conscientiously can recommend them to 

 convalescents. This has, nevertheless, been done 

 by so-called doctors, who knew perhaps as much 

 of wine as they did of the disease their patients 

 were afflicted with. 



To insure a good native wine, and we have 

 them, we must secure a juicy, not pulpy variety, 

 whether it recommends itself as a table grape or 

 not •, then select a locality where the soil is not 

 dry, but is either naturally or may be artificially 

 drained. Then have the vines pruned or trim- 

 med according to some one of the various good 

 systems, but always kept from crowding. How 



to select a favorable situation, is a question not 

 so easily decided. A western slope on the banks 

 of a river as is best in Europe, with us exposes 

 the vines in summer to too fierce a sunshine and 

 the diy winds coming from that direction. An 

 ] eastern or southeastern exposure will modify 

 these extremes, presenting the benefit acci'uing 

 ' from the moisture the eastern winds carr}^ with 

 them; but, in the New England States, this 

 eastern wind often produces a too sudden and 

 considerable lowering in the temperature of the 

 atmosphere, which gives a check to the growth, 

 thereby causing mildew. "With respect to the 

 selection of exposure, a vmiform rule for Ame- 

 rica is, therefore, out of the question, and the 

 adoption of the same has to be made according 

 to the local conditions. Since planting trees for 

 the vines to grow on cannot be thought of, but 

 the upper roots near the base of the vines seem 

 to demand some protection, I would suggest 

 mulching, and to have the trellises constructed 

 somewhat difterent from what they generally 

 are. I would have them at least five to six 

 feet high, one foot from the ground, a fence 

 board or rail Avell fastened to the posts, another 

 one on the top of them, and wires not more than 

 one foot apart between them. Close under the 

 top rail, a piece four feet long across, standing 

 out two feet each way, firmly braced to the post, 

 and a lath about two inches wide fastened to the 

 ends of this cross-piece, serving as a rest for the 

 end vines to overhang, and thus shade the vine, 

 forming a canopy over four feet wide. Tliis will 

 prevent an excessive evaporation of both vine 

 and soil during the middle of the day, and too 

 great a radiation of the latter during the night, and 

 besides greatly diminish the evil consequence of 

 the dryness, the premature dropping of the 

 leaves and consequent exposition of the bunches 

 to the sun, which always deteriorates the quality 

 of the fruit. If water could be given when the 

 drought lasts too long, dm'ing the growing period 

 before ripening commences — soaking the soil well 

 — so much the better. That so many possessing 

 but a few vines in their garden, generally on 

 rickety trellises or arbors, get but poor grapes to 

 eat, if any, will never be remedied, as long as 

 these people will not learn what little there is 

 to know about it, but emplo}' men excellent as 

 "coachmen," "useful," &c., to do the good 

 Avork. These men may be very handy about 

 a place — milk a cow and beat a carpet 

 — but can never do satisfactory work in a 

 garden, unless directed by intelligent garden- 



