CHAPTER XV. 



THi: VINEYARD AXD SMALL FRUITS. 



Grapes are among the most variable of fruits even in 

 their wild state, in which climate, soil, shade, humidity 

 and perhaps natural hybridization have originated such 

 a multiplicity of forms that it is often difficult to dis- 

 tinguish the original types and to refer the different 

 forms to their proper alliances. There are many varie- 

 ties that thrive well on heavy black loamy sandy soils, 

 some do splendidly on the adobe or clayey soils, and 

 many do all that is possible on red clayish sandy soils. 

 The former and the latter are adapted to the successful 

 cultivation of more varieties than is the adobe. 



The Best Soils. The soil best suited to the 

 grape, however, is a loose, porous one, not very wet and 

 not underlaid with water. Whether the soil is sand or 

 clay is not so important as its porosity and ability to 

 quickly lose its excess of moisture after an irrigation or a 

 drenching rain. Grapevines should not be planted clos- 

 er than eisrht feet, and after the first year no crop should 

 be grown between the rows. If the vineyard is large, 

 roadways should be left to haul into it manure and to 

 haul out of it the grapes. The lack of success in cultivat- 

 ing the grape on adobe soil is caused by excessive irriga- 

 tion too much water on the surface keeping the soil 

 cold, and invariably turning the leaves yellow. "When 

 there is a porous subsoil grapes do better on an adobe 

 soil. A soil that contains much alkali is not good for 

 grapes. What would be called a sandy soil with a porous 

 subsoil has so far proved to be the best, and the soil 



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