88 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



make a slow growth in light soils, and it is probable tliat a 

 seedling grape, born in a strong loam, would prefer its native 

 soil to any other, and thrive best there ; while a seedling from 

 a sandy loam would be impatient of a too rich and heavy soil, 

 as happens with the Concord. It is quite possible, however, 

 that some grapes would be improved by the change, a matter 

 which we recommend to amateurs as worthy of experiment. 

 Other things being equal, the warmer the soil the better the 

 success, and this leads us to speak of 



ASPECT. 



All writers on the grape concur in giving the first place to a 

 south aspect. A gentle slope sheltered from the north and east 

 winds, on which the sun darts his genial rays during the wbole 

 day, warming the earth to a good depth, and bathing the plants 

 in light from " morn till dewy eve," is undoubtedly the best. 

 In such a situation, the vines receive a larger sliare of light 

 and heat than in any other, and light and heat are tlie great 

 essentials in the culture of the grape. The vine will succeed 

 well, however, in any aspect from east to west, but always the 

 best where the sun warms the earth to the greatest depth. A 

 south-west aspect will be better than a south-east, and a west 

 better than an east, because the rays of the sun lay upon it in 

 the latter part of the day, and, in autumn, when the grapes are 

 ripening, this afternoon sun is of great service. We do not 

 always have choice of aspect, however, but we may grow the 

 grape successfully in any aspect, from west to east, preferring 

 first the south, next south-west, next south-east, next west, 

 lastly east. 



When a vineyard has an unfavorable aspect, as to prevailing 

 winds, the planting of the vines in rows so as to present the 

 broadside of the rows to the wind will be a considerable protec- 

 tion, but the rows should always run as near north and south 

 as practicable, and should not, if it can be avoided, run east 

 and west, for the obvious reason that the vines would shade the 

 ground too much, and so retard the ripening of the grapes. 



BI A N U R E S . 



Nothing in relation to the cultivation of the grape has elicited 

 so much controversy as the subject of manures. Jr^ome recom- 



