Choice of a Situation for a Vineyard. 13 



perform every part of the labor by hand. From the prepara- 

 tion of the soil to the culture of the vines, and even manur- 

 ing them, when that was done, nothing but human labor 

 could be applied. Gradually the vineyards were extended 

 upward to the exposed hill tops, and downward until they 

 expanded over the level terraces of the river valleys. It was 

 soon discovered that where the land was sufficiently level to 

 admit of the use of the plow, the cultivation could be much 

 more easily performed, and vines were much more extensively 

 planted. Next came the observation that those on the tops 

 of the hills, freely exposed to light and air, were more pro- 

 ductive, and in every way preferable and more satisfactory in 

 their results, being much more cheaply managed also. 



Those on the gravelly and sandy river terraces, though 

 easily tended, did not generally succeed, but planters on ele- 

 vated plateaux of clayey soil were more successful with their 

 vineyards. 



In the northern portion, of Ohio, on Lake Erie, flat lands 

 and gentle slopes have always been selected, and they have 

 been remarkably successful, in some cases, when but a few 

 feet above the level of the lake, except in certain situations 

 where a black, mucky soil was chosen, when the grape dis- 

 eases soon made their appearance, and destroyed the crop. 

 In that part of the country the soils vary, as above stated, but 

 while heavy clay lands, rich in lime, are preferred, those of a 

 more stony character, and gravelly drifts, with good natural 

 drainage, have been found very successful, and some soils 

 called sandy have yielded good results. 



With the high price of labor in this country, it is abso- 

 lutely necessary for us to select our sites with reference to 

 performing the work of the vineyard as much as possible by 

 the use of animals, with plows and cultivators. We must 

 have access to our vineyards with the horse and wagon, to 

 transport material to and from the soil, instead of depending 



