28 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



The ideal soil. 



Grapes may be well grown in a wide range of soils if the land 

 is well drained, open to air and if it holds heat. But without 

 these essentials, whatever the soil, .all subsequent treatment 

 fails to produce a good vineyard. Generally speaking, the 

 grape grows best in a light, free-working, gravelly loam, but 

 there are many good vineyards in gravelly or stony clays, 

 gravel or stone to furnish drainage, let in the air and to hold 

 heat. Contrary to general belief, the grape seldom thrives in 

 very sandy soils unless there is a fair admixture of clay, con- 

 siderable decomposing vegetable matter and a clay subsoil. 

 The latter, however, must not come too close to the surface. 

 Some of the best vineyard lands in the country are very stony, 

 the stones hindering only in making the land difficult to till. 

 Nearly all grapes require a friable soil, compactness being a 

 serious defect. Virgil, writing in Christ's time, gave good ad- 

 vice as to soil for the vine : 



"A free loose earth is what the vines demand, 

 Where wind and frost have help'd the lab'rer's hand, 

 And sturdy peasants deep have stirr'd the land." 



Cold, churlish, sticky or clammy clays are never to the liking 

 of the grape. 



Great fertility is not necessary in grape lands. Indeed, the 

 grape is conspicuous among cultivated plants for ability to 

 nourish itself where the food supply is scant. Soils naturally 

 too rich produce an overgrowth of vine, the season's wood does 

 not mature, the crop does not set, and the grapes lack sugar, 

 size, color and flavor. Good physical condition and warmth 

 in a well-watered, well-aired soil enable the grape to search 

 far and wide for its food. 



Drainage. 



Xo cultivated grape endures a wet soil ; all demand drainage. 

 A few sorts may thrive for a time in moist, heavy land, but more 



