GRAPE CULTURE. 153 



water, at no very remote period ; but above this mark, the soil contains 

 scarcely any evidence by which an opinion can be maintained that it Avas 

 ever under the dominion of the sea ; and the wines grown on these lauds will 

 be of a more delicate flavor, and possess a more abundant bouquet. In these 

 mountainous districts are extensive tracts of chalky soil, where scarcely a 

 shrub will grow. The vine, however, is made to flourish here, with a little 

 artificial irrigation ; and if we may judge the future by the present, the time is 

 is at hand when the celebrated wines of the Johannisberg may And a worthy rival 

 in the Sierra Nevada. The seasons being long and dry, with the same liability 

 to heated terms as in the Atlantic States, I consider it (a locality, having a north- 

 western slope) preferable, in California, to a site facing the south and east. 

 Too much pains cannot be taken in breaking the ground up deep, for the 

 reception of the vines in countries devoid of rain in the bearing season ; hence 

 I would recommend the reverse practice of that which would seem judicious 

 in rainy localities. In most parts of the State of California, the night air 

 is moist and moderately cool, owing to the sea breezes which constantly 

 blow inland ; and it is this phenomenon which makes the climate so favorable 

 to the health of the vine. In the dryest situations and after months of rain- 

 less, cloudless skies, the leaf of the vine will always be found soft and full of 

 moisture in the morning. As a matter of experiment, to test the question as 

 to where the grape procured the bulk of its food, I have girdled the bearing 

 branches below the fruit stems, by removing the bark for the space of an inch, 

 entirely around it, at the time the seeds had become hardened, and yet the 

 grapes on such branches matured quite as well as on branches where this was 

 not done. In fact, I think they ripened earlier, and were quite as rich in 

 flavor. Of course, such branches never renewed their leaves, and when they 

 were in a growing condition at the time, such growth at once stopped, for the 

 reason of a failure to exchange supplies of nutriment with the roots. I recite 

 this experiment merely as cumulative evidence, going to show how much the 

 grape, in its later stages of growth, is dependent on the foliage, and how little 

 on any supposed supplies of nutriment from the roots. 



It was thought, until recently, that the vine would require irrigation in 

 California, in order to be able to mature its fruit. This notion is being 

 rapidly exploded, because it is proved that where the soil is kept in a friable 

 condition, by cultivation until after the close of the rainy season, the vine will 

 make a sufficient growth of Avood and foliage to mature the fruit, and furnish 

 bearing canes for the succeeding crop of grapes. 



PLANTING AND PRESERVING THE VINES. 



"Where it can be made convenient, it is best to summer fallow the ground 

 intended to be planted with vines, as this will enable the vintner to commence 

 operations, in setting the plants some weeks earlier, than if he is obliged co 

 wait for the fall of sufficient rain to moisten the earth, so as to enable him to 

 plow before planting. When the ground is in suitable condition, which it a\ ill 

 be if summer falloAv has been adopted, the vines may be set as early as 

 November, even before any rains have Mien. If the planting can be done 

 early, cuttings which are taken from strong, well matured wood will be nearly 

 as sure to grow as rooted plants. When cuttings are used, they should not be 

 more than twelve or fifteen inches long, and should be inserted in the ground 

 so that the upper bud is just above the surface. By early planting, while the 

 ground is warm, the lower buds on the cutting become stimulated, and remit to 

 the bottom of the cane sufficient sap to form the granulations, from which it 

 will be emitted simultaneously with the bursting of leaves from the upper bud 

 at the opening of spring. 



Where planting is delayed until spring, rooted plants only should be used ; 

 but even these will do best when planted in the fall. In moving the plants 



