MT VIKBTAUD, 89 



CHAPTER X. 



PREPAEATION or SOILS. 



There is no one point in grape culture which demands 

 more attention than the preparation of the soil. The first 

 and most important requirement is that the soil should 

 be dry. Whatever may be the case with the wild vine, 

 those which are iu cultiYatioii, will not succeed in wet 

 places. In the same field, within ten feet of each other, 

 I have seen vines of the same age, some of which 

 were luxuriant and loaded with fruit, while others were 

 dwarfed, sickly things, without any signs of fruit at 

 all. This difference was caused by a difference in the 

 soil; that where the first grew being dry and warm, while 

 the others were in a boggy place, somewhat wet, but not 

 excessively so. The cultivated vine will not live in any 

 place where there is stagnant water ; nor will it succeed 

 in any soil where there is an excess of moisture. 



