SOILS FOR THK GRAPH 33 -[ 



disposition which is to be made of the crop, and the demand for it. 

 The coloring of certain varieties is a matter underlying their 

 profitable production for fresh shipments and this is determined 

 by local conditions concerning which the best information is actual 

 observation of their effects. These few facts out of many which 

 could be stated will serve to enforce the fact that wide as is 

 the range of the grape, both localities and varieties for certain 

 purposes must be intelligently chosen. Much has been learned 

 during the last few years, but it will require the experience of 

 another generation, perhaps, to make the matter clear. 



Soils for the Grape. The grape will thrive on a great variety 

 of soils, in fact, on any of those enumerated as fruit soils in 

 Chapter III. There are thrifty vineyards on the light, deep valley 

 loams, on the heavy clayey loams, on adobe, and on the red soils 

 of the foothills. Even on shallow soils the grape will do well if 

 given sufficient moisture, and on rocky subsoils it thrives if there 

 be crevices for the roots to penetrate, or if the rock be shattered 

 to admit the roots to permeable substrata. Standing water dur- 

 ing the active period of the vine is, however, unfavorable to 

 growth, and alkali is adverse to satisfactory results in wine mak- 

 ing. Almost any soil which does not hold excess of water or 

 is not tainted with alkali will do for the vine, although the plant 

 appreciates good, deep soil, and will grow and bear fruit in pro- 

 portion to its supply of it. Of course the economic question of 

 ease of cultivation enters into the choice of soil for the grape, 

 as for other fruits, but its claims are obvious and need not be 

 enlarged upon. 



Length of the Grape Season. By choice of early and late vari- 

 eties the grape season extends over, half a year in California, 

 without recourse to artificial means of preservation. Where the 

 fall rains are not very protracted, the late varieties sometimes 

 remain in good condition on the vines until the winter pruning. 

 Good grapes have been picked from the vines as late as the mid- 

 dle of January. 



