GKAPE MANUAL. 



CLIMATE, SOIL AND ASPECTS. 



Whether the Grape-vine is a native of Asia, 

 and has followed the footsteps of man from the 

 shores of the Caspian Sea, and "intertwined its 

 tendrils with civilization and refinement in 

 every age," or whether the hundreds of varie- 

 ties that now exist spring from different pri- 

 mordial forms or species, certain it is that, al- 

 though the Grape-vine may be found in Europe 

 from the Tropic of Cancer to the Baltic Sea, and 

 in America from the Gulf to the Lakes, the vine 

 is nevertheless peculiarly the growth of defi- 

 nite climatic conditions ; s ) much so that even 

 in its most adapted climate there are often 

 seasons if not of actual failure, at least of an 

 imperfect development of its fruit. From long 

 and careful observations of temperature and 

 moisture, in years of success and failure, we 

 have finally arrived at same definite conclu- 

 sions respecting the meteorological influences 

 affecting the grape.* 



1st. No matter how excellent the soil, if 

 there is a less average than fifty-five degrees 

 of temperature for the growing months of April, 

 May and June, and a less average than sixty- 

 five degrees for the maturing months of July, 

 August and September, there can be no hope 

 of success ; and where the temperature aver- 

 ages sixty-five degrees for the former months 

 and seventy-five for the latter, other conditions 

 being equal, fruit of the greatest excellence 

 can be raised, and wine of the greatest body 

 and finest quality can be produced. 



2d. When there is an average rainfall of six 

 inches for the months of April, May and June, 

 and an average of 5 inches for the months of 

 July, August and September, though other con- 

 ditions were favorable, we cannot succeed in 

 raising grapes. When the average rainfall for 

 the first months is not more than four inches, 

 and the average for the latter is not more than 

 three inches, other conditions favorable, the 

 hardy varieties can be cultivated with suc- 

 cess. But where there is less average rainfall 



* James S. Lippincott : Climatology of American 

 Grapes. Id. Geography of Plants U. S. Agr. Reports, 

 1862 and 186a Dr. J. Stayman: The MeteorologicaJ Infra - 

 ences affecting the Grape. 



than five inches for April, May and June, and 

 a less average than two inches in July, August 

 and September, all other conditions being fav- 

 orable, fruit of the best quality can be raised, 

 and wine of the greatest body and excellence 

 can be made. The humidity of the atmosphere 

 in some countries, the dryness of the air in 

 others, will, of course, materially change the 

 proportion of rainfall required for, or injurious 

 to the grape. Here, a clear sky and dry at- 

 mosphere, high temperature and very little 

 rainfall for the latter three months, and a 

 less change of temperature than 50 degrees 

 in twenty-four hours, any time of the year, are 

 favorable conditions for success. 



With regard to the necessity of attention to 

 the most advantageous climatic conditions, 

 says Mr. William Saunders (the eminent su- 

 perintendent of the Experimental Gardens of 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture), " It is 

 enough to remark, that where these are favor- 

 able, good crops of fruit are the rule, and that 

 too, even in the absence of experience in culti- 

 vation ; but in unfavorable locations the ap- 

 plication of the highest attainments in the art 

 and science of grape culture, so far as relates to 

 pruning manipulations or culture and manage- 

 ment of soil, will not insure success. Grape 

 culture has now reached a point from which 

 but little further progress can be made without 

 a close recognition of the requirements of the 

 plant, in connection with local climatic 

 conditions, the most important being that of 

 freedom from heavy dews (freedom from those 

 cryptogamic diseases mildew and rot). The 

 topographical configuration of a locality is of 

 far more importance than its geographical 

 formation. Where the atmospheric conditions 

 are favorable, satisfactory results may be ob- 

 tained, even from poor soils, but in ungenial 

 climates the very best soils will not guarantee 

 success." 



Moreover, with our present and increasing 

 facilities of transportation, grape culture on a 

 large scale cannot be remunerative, except in 

 favorable localities which will produce the 

 beet quality almost every year with certainty. 

 Where the production is low in quality and 



