THE AMERICAN GRAPES. 235 



accomplished during the season of most active growth and 

 new wood cell formation. When united the shoot of the 

 cultivated variety is severed just below the point of union 

 and the top of the stock just above it, giving a top-worked 

 vine for planting where wanted. 



228. Best Soil and Location for Vineyard. Much has 

 been written on this topic that after experience has shown 

 had little foundation. About three leading facts deserve 

 the attention of commercial planters : 



(1) Air-drainage (97) is essential for protection from 

 early spring or early autumn frosts at the North. 



(2) The porous subsoil is required that will give drain- 

 age in a wet time and permit moisture to ascend to the 

 upper soil in a dry period. 



(3) Dark-colored soil with an abundant supply of 

 humus and nitrogen is not desirable for profit, as it 

 develops long-jointed wood and rampant growth not fa^or- 

 able for early, well ripened, or good crops of fruit. Bather 

 thin land for a good corn crop gives the best fruit in 

 quality, and freedom from rot of fruit or disease of vine. 

 But such land may need barnyard manure, potash, and 

 phosphoric acid as the vines get age. Even in the South 

 and California the best grapes in quality, and for shipping 

 or wine-making, are grown on lands not rich enough for 

 the best crops of corn. Yet it is true that good grapes 

 can be grown for home use and local market on any dry 

 land over a large part of the Union by selecting the 

 varieties adapted to the varied condition of soil, latitude, 

 and longtitude. 



229. Varieties for Varied Sections. It is not easy to 

 select any one variety adapted to all parts of the Union. 

 Such dessert varieties as Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, 

 and Cottage as yet are the cosmopolitan varieties starred 

 or double starred by the American Horticultural Society 



