CHAPTER DDL 



THE SOIL, AND ITS PREPARATION MANURES. 



Soil. The soil may next occupy our atten- 

 tion. What is the best soil for the grape? 

 This question has been variously answered. 

 Those who live in a district where clay 

 abounds say that a clayey soil is best ; while 

 those who live where sand prevails will tell 

 you that a sandy soil is best, and so on. The 

 solution of these answers may be found in the 

 fact that good grapes are grown in both 

 kinds of soil. Our own experience, and a 

 pretty extended observation among vineyards, 

 lead us to give preference to sandy or gravelly 

 loams. It has been said that any soil that will 

 grow good corn will grow good grapes. We 

 have no doubt of the truthfulness of the re- 

 mark; and we should not hesitate to plant a 

 vineyard upon such a soil, if favorably located. 

 But we may go further, and say that good 



