26 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



first quality. Steep hillsides, although they will gener- 

 ally produce quality, should be avoided by the profes- 

 sional grower, as they are difficult and expensive to work 

 and are liable to wash with heavy rains, which soon 

 carry off the surface soil. The aspect of the vineyard is 

 not of so much importance here as it is in Europe, 

 where the southern is preferred, because growers need all 

 the sun they can get to properly ripen their grapes. On 

 the contrary, in this country, except in the extreme 

 north, we suffer from sun-scald during July and August, 

 and as northern and eastern aspects generally have the 

 richest and deepest soil, they are usually preferred to 

 the southern and western, which are exposed to the full 

 rays of the noon and afternoon sun. As to the quality 

 of the soil, it may be presumed that any land which will 

 grow fair grain is rich enough for grapes, and contains 

 the elements necessary for their culture. I do not 

 think, however, that an extremely poor soil can be de- 

 pended upon to produce either quantity or quality. For 

 market we want a perfect fruit one that pleases the 

 taste as well as the eye ; and for wine we must have a 

 product rich in sugar, of fine flavor and quality. It 

 would seem unnatural to suppose that starved vines 

 could produce this, and as unreasonable to expect it 

 from a rank and therefore unhealthy growth on land 

 which is too rich. Therefore, a soil of medium fertility, 

 and well drained, will generally produce the best results. 



