GRAPES 
liability of washing and difficulty of til- 
lage tend to render such vineyards less 
productive and shorter lived. The shores 
about the large lakes appear to be espe- 
cially well adapted to grapes-—these dis- 
tricts in some instances extending sev- 
eral miles back from the water. But 
very rarely can grapes be grown in our 
northernmost latitudes without the in- 
creased labor and cost of covering in 
winter, except under the tempering in- 
fluence of large bodies of water. Low 
situations that prevent a free circulation 
of air, such as river bottoms and the 
basins of small lakes, should be avoided, 
as such locations are more liable to un- 
seasonable frosts; and also their poor air 
drainage favors powdery mildew and 
black rot. There is much difference of 
opinion as to the direction the rows 
should run. In the “Chautauqua Grape 
Belt” the prevailing direction is north 
and south, where the slope is not too 
steep. This is ideal for this section, as 
the morning sun rapidly dries the dew 
on the east side of the rows while the 
prevailing wind dries it on the west. The 
constant west and northwest wind is 
probably the chief reason why this dis- 
trict is so free from black rot. Where 
the slope is steep, the rows must neces- 
sarily run at right angles to it. 
The foregoing does not necessarily 
mean that the grape can not be grown 
on level land, for such is not the case. 
Many fine, vigorous vineyards are so situ- 
ated, but, as a rule, sloping land has 
the better natural surface drainage. The 
region about a large body of water is 
usually rolling or sloping. WHence, more 
vineyards are found on the slopes than 
on the typical flat land. 
Soils 
Experience shows that grapes may be 
grown upon a great variety of soils. Pro- 
ductive vineyards are found on loam, 
sandy loam, gravel, gravelly loam, 
heavy clay and clay loam. It is not so 
much a question of the kind of soil, as 
the condition of that soil as to texture, 
drainage and fertility, and the possibil- 
ity of washing. It is true that certain 
varieties exhibit a soil preference, but 
2-28 
int 
1089 
most commercial varieties will thrive on 
many types of soil. 
Drainage 
The first essential is that there be 
good drainage. The cultivated grape 
does not thrive with its roots continu- 
ously in water, though it be more toler- 
ant in this respect than most fruits. A 
natural conclusion prevails that sloping 
land is well drained; yet this is not al- 
ways true. Especially where the soil is 
shallow, an impervious rock or hardpan 
below may form basins or “kettle” holes 
in which water is retained and the soil 
becomes saturated, as the water must rise 
to the surface to escape. Under such 
conditions, a slope is as badly water- 
logged and as poorly drained as a low- 
land area. If there be not good drainage, 
the field should be tiled. 
Preparation of Soil 
In the preparation of the soil for set- 
ting grape vines the grower should exer- 
cise the greatest care. A little thought 
and work before setting will pay for 
themselves many times over. As a gen- 
eral rule it is poor practice to reset to 
grape land that has just been in vine- 
yard, without putting under a good green 
manure crop two or three times before 
planting. When it is desired to reset 
land where a vineyard has been pulled 
out, or even where a new location is 
selected, sow mammoth clover in August 
and plow this under just before it blos- 
soms the following summer; then seed 
it again to clover and plow it under the 
following spring, when ready to plant. 
Deep turning under of a green manure 
crop, followed by thorough dragging and 
rolling, puts the soil in the best of tilth. 
Once gotten in good tilth after thorough 
preparation, it is far easier to maintain 
in good condition than without such 
preparation. 
In fitting the field, preparatory to plant- 
ing, plow as deeply as possible, with a 
two-horse plow, into lands eight or nine 
feet wide—the width depending on the 
distance apart which the rows are to be 
made. This will leave dead furrows eight 
or nine feet apart. Then with a subsoil 
plow, go twice through each dead fur- 
