12 Vineyard Culture. 



the Cape, produce wines that are much esteemed, while 

 the plains that are situated in their neighborhood, yield 

 a liquor that is little sought after. To the north it is 

 the reverse : the wines of exposed plains, or hillocks, 

 are generally superior to those grown on the mountains. 



[The subject of drainage and its necessity can not be too 

 strongly urged upon vine-planters, especially those who select 

 heavy lands. The majority of grapes require a porous and 

 well drained soil, through which the superabundant moisture 

 may readily percolate, and to which it will also return by cap- 

 illarity in a. period of drought ; hence the importance of 

 loams, or even sandy loams, for all cultivated lands, and hence 

 the necessity for drainage in our heavy clays. For further 

 argument in favor of drainage, and for instruction in the de- 

 tails of performing the operations, the reader is referred to 

 the excellent manuals upon that subject which may now be 

 obtained. 



Surface drainage is very well in its way, but can not at all 

 supply the place of thorough underdraining. The methods 

 of applying surface drainage to the vineyard will be explained 

 in another page.] 



It will be equally well to avoid declivities that are 

 too abrupt, for in such cases the cost of cultivation 

 will be much greater. The plow can not be used 

 there ; the rain floods tear up the ground and wash 

 down a portion of the soil, which has to be carried up 

 again by hand. The transporting of manure, as well 

 as the gathering of the grapes, is much more difficult. 



[In our own country we have similar illustrations of the 

 different situations that have been appropriated to grape cul- 

 ture. On the banks of the Ohio the first vineyards were all 

 planted upon the abrupt hill sides, where it was necessary to 



