GRAPE MANUAL. 



CLIMATE, SOIL, AND ASPECTS. 



"Whether the Grape-vine is a native of Asia, 

 and has followed the footsteps of man from the 

 shores of the Caspian Sea, and "intertwined its 

 tendrils with civilization and refinement in 

 every age," or whether the hundreds of varie- 

 ties that now 'exist spring from different pri- 

 modial forms or species, certain it is that, al- 

 though the Grape-vine may be found in Europe 

 from the Tropic of Cancer to the Baltic Sea, and 

 in America from the Gulf to the Lakes, the vine 

 is nevertheless peculiarly the growth of definite, 

 climatic conditions; so much so that even in its 

 most adapted climate there are often seasons if 

 not of actual failure, at least of an imperfect de- 

 velopment of its fruit. From long and careful 

 observations of temperature and moisture -in 

 years of success and of failure, we have finally 

 arrived at some definite conclusions respecting 

 the meteorological influences affecting the 

 grape.* 



1st. No matter how excellent the soil, if there 

 is a less average than fifty-five degrees of tem- 

 perature for the growing mouths of April, May 

 and June, and a less average than sixty-five de- 

 grees for the maturing mouths of July, August 

 and September, there can be no hope of suc- 

 cess; and where the temperature averages sixty- 

 five degrees for the former months and seventy- 

 five degrees for the latter, other conditions be- 

 ing equal, fruit of the greatest excellence can 

 be raised, and wine of the greatest body and 

 finest excellence can be produced. 



2d. When there is an average rain fall of six 



* James S. Lippincott: Climatology of American 

 G rapes. Id Geography of PJants - V. S. Agr Reports, 

 186^ and Ib63 Dr. J Stayman : The Meteorological Influ- 

 ences affecting the Grape. 



inches for the months of April, May and June, 

 and an average of five inches for the months of 

 July, August and September, other conditions 

 favorable, we cannot succeed in raising grapes. 

 When the average rainfall for the first months 

 is not more than four inches, and the average 

 for the latter is not more than three inches, 

 other conditions favorable, the hardy varieties 

 can be cultivated with success. But where 

 there is less average rainfall than five inches 

 for April, May and June, and a less average 

 than two inches in July, August and Septem- 

 ber, all other conditions being* favorable, fruit 

 of the best quality can be raised, and wine of 

 the greatest body and excellence can be made. 

 The humidity of the atmosphere in some coun- 

 tries, the dry ness of the air in others, will, of 

 course, materially change the proportion of 

 rainfall required for or injurious to the grape. 

 Here, a clear sky and dry atmosphere, high 

 temperature and very little rainfall for the latter 

 three months, and a less change of temperature 

 than 50 degrees in twenty-four hours, any time 

 of the year, are the most favorable conditions 

 for success. 



There are only a few countries where the 

 grape will, in favorable seasons, grow to per- 

 fection, and there is no country in the world 

 where all kinds of grapes would succeed. Spe- 

 cies found in the lower latitudes will not flour- 

 ish if removed further north; the natives of 

 higher latitudes will not endure the southern 

 heat; the Scuppernong cannot ripen north of 

 Virginia; the fox grape of the North will 

 scarcely grow in the lower regions of Carolina 

 and Georgia; a vine which produces delicious 

 grapes in Missouri may become very inferior in 

 the most favored localities of New Hampshire. 



