MY VINEYARD. 81 



CHAPTER IX. 



SOIL AI^D SITUATION. 



WIDE ADAPTATION OF THE GRAPE. 



The grape is adapted to the widest diversity of soil, 

 from the heaviest clay to light gravel. I have seen it 

 growing, in its wild state, on the most rocky and rugged 

 hill-sides of New England, and in the deep, alluvial soils 

 on the river banks of the West. This wide adaptation of 

 the grape, in its cultivated state, is doubtless dependent 

 to a considerable extent upon the variety, the manner of 

 preparing the soil, and the mode of training. And yet, 

 so far as successful cultivation goes, the grape is confined 

 to certain localities, which are so like other localities 

 where it is not successful, that it would be difficult to 

 point out the difiTerence which causes the result. For in- 

 stance, the grape may be successful on one shore of a 



stream or lake, while on the opposite side, or a little far- 

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