AND WINE MAKING. 25 



CHAPTER VI. 



THE VINEYARD LOCATION, ASPECT AND SOIL. 



That the selection of a proper location, as well as the 

 best soil, is of great importance if the grower intends to 

 reach the best results, no one will deny. Generally it 

 may be said and taken as a rule, that locations free from 

 frosts, and exposed to a free circulation of air, are best 

 adapted to the grape, but they should also be underlaid 

 with the most suitable soil. That this should be nat- 

 urally very rich is not so important as that it should be 

 loose and friable, so that the roots of the vine can pene- 

 trate it easily and draw nourishment as well as moisture 

 from below. The best results will be obtained on a soil 

 which is naturally porous, so that it will drain easily 

 and not retain moisture on the surface. Such a soil will 

 also retain moisture well, and thus the vines will not 

 suffer, either from "wet feet "or extremes of drouth. 

 Soils underlaid by hardpan, especially where they con- 

 tain alkali, should be carefully avoided, as they will 

 never produce a large or healthy crop of good grapes. 

 Those locations which are free from malaria may gener- 

 ally be considered as safe for the grape, and where ma- 

 laria prevails we cannot expect to grow good and healthy 

 grapes of the best quality. This will apply in its closer 

 sense only to those who intend to make grape-growing 

 their business, either for market or wine. For the ama- 

 teur, who only wishes to grow grapes for family use, and 

 has already a homestead, it will be easy to choose a loca- 

 tion somewhere on his grounds as favorable as he can 

 find it, where he can grow grapes enough for his pur- 

 pose. Some varieties are so hardy and healthy that they 

 will succeed anywhere, and he ought to choose these, 

 contenting himself with them, even if they are not of 



