GRAPES 
There is no part of the South where 
grapes of fine quality can not be grown 
in sufficient quantity for home use, and in 
many parts they are an exceedingly prof- 
itable market crop. 
The Question of Soils 
Grapes will grow on any soil which is 
suited to the growing of peaches. The 
best soil is one which is fertile, but not 
excessively rich; which is loose and easi- 
ly worked, and which is underlaid by an 
open and porous subsoil. Neither thrifty 
vines nor heavy crops of fruit can be pro- 
duced on a sterile soil. On the other 
hand, if the soil be too rich, containing 
an excess of humus and nitrogenous ma- 
terial, as is usually the case with creek- 
bottom soils, the vines will make a rank 
growth, but the fruit will be small, im- 
perfect, sour, and lacking in flavor. The 
presence of lime in the soil is always 
beneficial. 
1097 
The character of the subsoil also is very 
important. The surface soil is easily 
changed and modified by cultivating and 
fertilizing, but the subsoil will remain 
practically unchanged. As the roots of 
the vines are easily injured by excessive 
heat and drought or by standing water, 
the subsoil should be of such a texture 
that the roots can penetrate below the 
reach of intense heat, and still not suffer 
from too much moisture. When the sub- 
soil is loose and porous it not only per- 
mits surplus water to pass down through 
quickly, but it also assists the water 
from below in passing back to the sur- 
face in times of drought, thus securing 
to the vine the constant and uniform 
supply of moisture’ essential to its 
healthy growth. Soils underlaid with 
hardpan, those which are inclined to 
wash badly, and those which are not 
naturally well drained should always be 
Niagara. 
—Mazted Photo 
