118 FRUIT BOOK. 



them. The proper soil for the grape vine is of more 

 importance than is generally supposed ; for, as Hoare 

 remarks of English culture, (which will apply in a 

 great measure to our own,) " that vines may be 

 seen in all parts of the country, the fruit on which 

 looks well during the early part of the season ; but 

 when the ripening season arrives, the berries become 

 green and hard, or otherwise they shrivel and decay. 

 These results are sure to be produced when the roots 

 grow in a soil that is too wet and adhesive, and into 

 which the sun and air cannot freely penetrate." 



The Isabella vine will grow most luxuriantly in 

 rich, deep soils, producing large shoots and leaves, 

 but the shoots and fruit ripen later, if they ripen at 

 all. The best soil we consider to be that of a light 

 loam, not deeper than twenty inches, mixed in with 

 bones, old mortar, oyster shells, &c. " Retentive 

 clays," as Loudon justly observes, " are the worst 

 soil for the vine ; " they are particularly so if upon a 

 wet and cold sub-soil. 



The grape is easily raised from cuttings ; these 

 must be taken from shoots of the last summer's 

 growth, taken off the vine previous to the swelling 

 of the buds in the spring ; shorten these to three 

 joints, and, when they admit, let each cutting have 

 about an inch of the previous year's wood at its 

 bottom ; they may be planted either in nursery rows, 

 or in places where they are finally to remain, observ- 

 ing to plant them somewhat slanting, and so deep 

 that only one joint or eye may appear above ground. 

 Vines are also propagated by layers of young shoots, 

 or with part of the branch they proceed from ; laying 



