CULTURAL METHODS FOR THE GRAPE IN NEW YORK 1273 



to unseasonable frosts, and their poor air drainage also favors 

 powdery mildew and black rot. 



There is much difference of opinion as to the direction in which 

 the rows should run. In the Chautauqua grape belt the prevail- 

 ing direction is north and south, where the slope is not too steep. 

 This is ideal for the Chautauqua section, as the morning sun 

 rapidly dries the dew on the cast side of the rows while the pre- 

 vailing wind dries the west. The constant west and northwest 

 wind is pn>l>;tl>ly the chief reason why this district is so free from 

 black rot. Where the slope is steep, the rows must necessarily run 

 at right angles to it. The foregoing does not necessarily mean 

 that the grape cannot be grown on level land, for such is not the 

 case. Many fine vigorous vineyards are so situated, but as a rule 

 sloping land has the better natural surface drainage. The region 

 near a large body of water is usually rolling or sloping, and more 

 vineyards are, therefore, found on slopes than on level land. 



FIG. 420. A HILLSIDE VINEYARD IN CENTRAL NEW YORK 



ESSENTIAL SOIL CONDITIONS 



Experience shows that grapes may be grown on a great variety 

 of soils. Productive vineyards are found on loam, sandy loam, 

 gravel, gravelly loam, heavy clay, silt loam, and clay loam. It 

 is not so much a question of the kind of soil, but the condition 



