SOIL AND SITUATION. 91 



the skill of the cultivator or to the varieties grown, and 

 this, no matter whether his soil was light or heavy, or 

 the situation low or elevated. Still, we know that soil 

 and situation have often much influence upon the growth 

 and quality of the fruit; for the instances of such an 

 effect being produced are too common in Europe, at 

 least, to allow us to deny its truth. 



In selecting a situation for a vineyard, all the sur- 

 roundings should be closely observed and taken into 

 account. If the land has no protection from the north 

 and northwest, see what the facilities are for supplying 

 one either by walls or a belt of trees. [If trees are to 

 be used, evergreens are best, and often the small trees 

 may be had in the woods near by we now refer to the 

 Northern States.] See that the land is sufficiently ele- 

 vated, thirty to forty feet, at least, above streams or 

 ponds of water; for, if near the level of small bodies of 

 water, the situation will very likely be subject to early 

 and late frosts. 



Large bodies of water are not so injurious as small ; 

 in fact, they are usually beneficial, as they absorb heat 

 in such quantities during summer, and give it off slowly 

 in the fall; this affects the surrounding country very 

 materially, by preventing early frosts. In spring, the 

 water being cold, it keeps the atmosphere cool for quite 

 a distance from the shore, and thereby prevents vegeta- 

 tion starting so early as it otherwise would. This is 

 probably one of the reasons why the cultivation of the 

 grape has been so largely extended, of late years, along 

 the banks of the Hudson, and around the smaller inland 

 lakes of Central New York, and on the southern shores 

 of Lake Ontario and Erie. 



When the soil is sandy or gravelly, it will require an 

 application of some organic material, either in the form 

 of barnyard manure, muck or leaf-mold. The latter two 

 can often be readily obtained, where the former, in any 



