30 OPEK ALR GEAPE CULTURE. 



CHAPTER II. 



SOIL. SITUATION AND ASPECT. 



Soil. — ^Tlievine will grow in almost any situation, 

 and reach a large size and exhibit luxurious vegeta- 

 tion under conditions apparently the most unfiivor. 

 able ; but if healtliy vines and fine fruit be desired, it 

 is necessary to choose a soil where the roots can ram- 

 ble freely, find plenty of nutriment and be safe from 

 stagnant water and its accompanying cold, sour sub- 

 soil. One of the largest vines in the country grows 

 in a swamp in New Jersey, and a vine has been known 

 to grow vigorously from a cleft in an old wall twenty 

 feet from the ground. But these are by no means 

 examples to be imitated in practice where we have 

 the power of selecting the site of our garden or vine- 

 yard, though they afibrd encouragement to the 

 amateur who is compelled to make use of an inferior 

 location. 



The opinion of good ^^ r.pe culturists is that any 

 soil which will grow gochi Iiiuian corn is suitable for 

 grapes. Others describe a soil adapted to the cul- 

 <"ure of the vine as one which- will c:row a'ood winter 



