284 PRUNING. 



be selected for nearly every soil and location, yet we do 

 not thereby desire to convey the idea that all soils and lo- 

 cations are equally adapted to the grape. Our experience 

 and observation have taught us that it is only upon a com- 

 paratively few locations and soils that the best grapes are 

 produced. A high elevation, sloping to the east and 

 south, or, if a large lake or body of water lie on the 

 north, then a gentle slope to the south, as along the south 

 shore of Lake Erie, with a soil of clay underlaid with 

 broken shale rock, is, perhaps, the best of all soils and lo- 

 cations. The next to this is a rolling and moderately ele- 

 vated position, adjacent to some large body of water, a 

 stiff clay, with an underlay of shale rock ; next, is the 

 same location with a clay soil resting on a gravel bed. 

 The next is a good, rich, clayey loam, resting upon a shale 

 or gravel bed, and lying nearly level ; and the last we 

 would use for the grape, in any case, is a light, sandy 

 loam, resting either upon a compact yellow sand or a 

 gravel. This last will produce fine, handsome bunches, 

 of many varieties, but the durability of vines in such 

 localities is doubtful. 



Shelter. Shelter is not indispensable to all vineyards, 

 but many localities exposed to violent winds may be 

 benefited materially by the planting of groups or masses 

 of trees, at proper distances, on the side from whence 

 come the strongest winds. Evergreens ameliorate the 

 temperature of the winds better than deciduous trees, 

 but, in absence of them, the planting of Beech, Maple, 

 etc., will assist in checking the liability to sudden 

 changes, and protect the vines and fruit from the effects 

 of the high wind, which, as we now write, October, 1871, 

 has done much damage to our own vineyard. 



Preparation of the Soil. The first preparation of the 

 soil is an important item in the forming of a vineyard. 

 The vigor and healthiness of the first and second years' 

 growth of the vine often decide their future. No young 



