88 THE GKAPE CIJLTUEIST. 



CHAPTEK XI. 



SOIL AND SITUATION. 



WHEN we take into consideration the wide extent of 

 territory in which the grape is found growing, either in its 

 wild or cultivated state, on both the Eastern and Western 

 continents, we may well ponder over the oft-repeated asser- 

 tion, that the vine does not succeed over the whole extent of 

 any country, but only in certain circumscribed localities ; 

 and while we may admit its truth, we fail to comprehend 

 the reasons why certain soils or sections of a country should 

 be more congenial to the vine than others. Yet the fact 

 that success does attend its cultivation in particular loca- 

 tions, while it entirely fails in others, is patent to every 

 casual observer. Whether these failures are attributable 

 to the injudicious selection of varieties, or to the mode of 

 culture, is not always easy to determine. That the climate 

 of both the Northern and Southern States, as well as that 

 portion of the United States lying west of the Rocky 

 Mountains, is congenial to the vine, is abundantly proved 

 by the numerous varieties found growing wild over this 

 vast region of country. No doubt there are particular 

 varieties which are better suited to one section than to 

 another, and that the same situation and exposure that 

 would be most suitable for a vineyard at the South, might 

 be the worst that could be selected for the North. 



A situation protected from the cold north winds, so as to 

 insure sufficient heat to mature the fruit, is always desira- 

 ble in a cold climate ; but in a hot one the heat may be so 

 great as to exhaust the powers of the vine by a too rapid 

 evaporation from its leaves, and it consequently fails. 



