41 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



x\fter tlie situation is chosen, which should be such as will give the vine full ex- 

 posure to the sun for the greatest part of the day, always preferring an easterly to a 

 westerly variation from a southerly aspect, the accommodation for roots demands con- 

 sideration. The ground in which it is planted must be prepared to give safe and con- 

 venient lodgment, both summer and winter, as well as to furnish a due supply of food. 



The greatest evil to be feared in summer is the lodgment of water in the soil occu- 

 pied by the roots, or excessive wetness ; excessive dryness must also be avoided. 



The evil to be dreaded in winter, is severe freezing of the ground, but chiefly alter- 

 nation of freezing and thawing, and all freezing of roots that are not well protected 

 from the direct action of the atmosphere. Roots that are six inches beneath the sur- 

 face will bear uninjured the freezing of a severe winter, but the vine that has its roots 

 exposed to the atmosphere at freezing temperature will be greatly damaged, if not 

 ruined. In spring, as the surface of the ground becomes warmed, the roots of the 

 vine shoot out with great vigor. The surface-roots seem disposed to take all of the 

 labor of supplying and sustaining the vine in its growth and fruit-bearing. While 

 the heat is moderate and the surface continues moist, the early vigor continues or 

 even becomes accelerated if, with increasing temperature, sufficient moisture is unin- 

 terruptedly supplied. But before the end of June the surface must become less moist 

 and more rapidly so, than the roots can be prepared for. The vine ceases to make 

 new leaves of large size, and fails to give the substance to those already formed, that 

 will make them effective and enduring in bringing forward the young fruit and fur- 

 nishing fine-grained, hard, short-jointed wood, which is necessary for the building up 

 and continuation of a healthy and productive " stock." 



The surface-roots cease to act, the vine languishes, and various marks of illness 

 appear. In cases of extreme severity the fruit fails and the leaves shrivel. In the 

 Isabella, both shoots and fruit show numerous dark purple specks, the leaves turn 

 brown with "sun-scald." The more enduring leaves of the Catawba show less disor- 

 der, but it drops its fruit, so that a large part of the crop, with all of its beauty, is 

 often lost by " the rot." 



In mild cases the vine comes to an apparent stand-still, but only apparent. No 

 new leaves are formed, but those already formed increase their substance. As the 

 surface-roots cease to act the lower ones take increased action, and if circumstances 

 are favorable, the fruit again begins to enlarge and goes on to ripening. 



These surface-roots will be destroyed by the winter, and when they have grown so 

 Inrge as to become an important part of the vine, its health is destroj^ed with them. 

 Often no marked effect follows, while all circumstances continue favorable ; but it is 

 only the vine whose health is at all points guarded and whose strength is ever hus- 

 banded that is able to withstand all trials of the seasons. 



IS'early the same train of symptoms follows the loss of the roots or the hindrance 

 of their formation during the growing season by the excess of water. 



We have glanced at a few of the evils to which the vine is very often subjected, in 

 order that we may see the need of obviating them at the beginning, or in preparing 

 the ground, so that it may easily and successfully be done. But if not done before 

 plantinjr, it can never be more than imperfectly accomplished by after efforts. 



Our indications then, are a deep pervious border, with open subsoil that needs no 

 draining; or if subsoil is retentive, it must have sufficient inclination to admit of 

 drainage. If drainage is not practicable, the border must be raised. 



To obviate the evils that result from drouth, the border must be made deep, and of 

 material that is attractive of moisture. This indication will always be perfectly ful- 

 filled in making the home for the roots of the plant so stored with food and that of 

 suitable quality and quantity as shall be always at hand, 



A border of proper depth, well enriched with a suitable compost, can never he dry. 



