Planting 213 



should not indicate that care need not be given to the 

 selection of a site that is adapted to the growing of the 

 grape, and especially the kinds which it is intended to 

 plant. Grapes draw heavily on the available fertility in 

 the soil, arid the greater the care that is given to building 

 up a good rich soil before planting grapes the better they 

 will respond in fruitfulness. Under general conditions, a 

 clay loam which is well drained will give the best results. 

 The best location is one which has a southern or east- 

 ern slope, as in such positions the land is not so likely to 

 be overly wet, and the dews will pass off more quickly 

 than on northern slopes. This is of importance in guard- 

 ing from the attacks of numerous diseases to which the 

 grapes are liable. Steep hillsides are often made into 

 profitable vineyards, and likewise are many pieces of flat 

 land in the river bottoms. But the proper precautions 

 must be taken under each condition to protect from the 

 troubles both situations will bring. Steep lands are hard 

 to cultivate and to get over with the spraying machinery, 

 while bottom lands are both frosty and disease producing. 



Preparation of Soil 



As the grape is a strong feeder the soil should be well 

 prepared before planting, especially if it is not naturally 

 fertile. It is even best under average conditions to grow 

 some leguminous crop for a couple of years before plant- 

 ing the vines in order to fill the soil with organic matter 

 to improve the texture and nitrogen. When turning under 

 a crop of green manure it should be turned under as deeply 

 as possible and then work down smooth with a disk harrow. 

 It should be remembered in setting a vineyard that it is to 

 last a lifetime and more, and like building a house the more 

 solid the foundation the better will be the super structure. 

 A vineyard which is well planted will be more easily cared 

 for in future years and be more profitable than one which 

 is put in in a hurry. 



Planting. 



On this account the ground should be rich at the time 

 the vines are planted in order to give the young plants a 



