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exposure. If protected by hills or belts of timber, all the bet- 

 ter ; if not, artificial protection may be furnished by planting 

 evergreens at intervals to break the force of winds and storms. 



Heavy clay loam, and what is called strong, moist soil, are 

 unfavorable for early maturity, and the finest quality of the 

 grape. A soil that will absorb and retain the sun's heat is 

 much to be preferred. There must be natural or artificial 

 drainage. 



Fruit-growing seems to have been one of the earliest occupa- 

 tions of man, and, although a little unpleasantness arose from 

 the first use of the apple, it has always been an attractive pur- 

 suit since that time. There is good reason to believe that the 

 grape was born at the same time as the apple, as Eden could 

 not have been the model garden that it was, before the devil 

 got in, in the absence of this most delicious fruit. Noah was 

 the first in the vineyard business, and appears to have had no 

 scruples about sampling the wine of his own manufacture. 



There is no fruit more desirable for home use, or more easily 

 and cheaply grown, than the grape, with possibly the exception 

 of the strawberry ; but the vine has one advantage over any of 

 the small fruit-bearing plants that require frequent renewal, 

 when once planted it becomes a permanent institution. It will 

 live and flourish, with decent care, to a very great age. 



Many, doubtless, are deterred from attempting to grow 

 grapes by reading the foolish directions, formerly so common, 

 for preparing a grape border trenching three feet deep, and 

 the bewildering rules for pruning and training the vines. I 

 contend that it is better to grow fruits in a " slip-shod" way 

 rather than not grow them at all. 



Vines may be planted in various localities on the farm, where 

 they will occupy little or no valuable space, and often such 

 spots will be peculiarly adapted to their wants. I have known 

 of instances where the soil on the south side of ledges in the 

 open field has been prepared, and along the sides of stone 

 walls forming division fences, and grapes grown in great abun- 

 dance. The sides of unsightly farm buildings may often be 

 utilized for this purpose. True, the clusters and berries thus 

 grown will not compare favorably in size with those produced 

 on a carefully trained vine, and their market value would be 



