Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1865-12-30
DECEMBER 30, 1865. /.

Ah NV hoOu vi DduuuSh1,n uu
the Peninsula not Of the Bay, and upon
some. of the Islands, rich .clays of this
character are to be, found, which have been
devoted TO the grape, aud upon them the
vine has been eninentIy successful. And
1t is o very common opinion, now, after
many years experience, that the clay cam
not be too hard and compact for the roots
Of the grape to~penetrate, The natural
indications there pieferred,are the stiff clay,
I be oaks, and among the humber plants
The Pennsylvania Bluegrass, y or Poa COM
pre- sS which alway takes possession OF
such cays, particularly if they contain
lime. a' 'ta
This grass may be considered one of the
surest indications with which am acquaint-
ed. and by the bye, though an introduced
plant in the fora of the United States, it
is remarkable how rapid il has spread over
our pastures upon congenial soils, and it
now constitutes one OF the most valuable
forage plants of the country wherever stiff
limestone clays abound. pa
II is somewhat remarkable that wild
grape vines, growing in the greatest luxu
rance, are not always safe guides to ;he
vine planter, though often referred to by
writer's as an index directing the attention
OF the settler Of new country to the
propriety of grape culture. This is
probably becau,e we do not plant varieties
TO which the soil is eqaally congenial; aud
b will be appreciated by those Sho adopt
the yeSs already advanced Respecting the
adaptation Of soils to varieties. ''
The pioIeer planter Of the l. Ike region
even declares that those vineysrds which
were prepared in the most tho, ough man
uer ty trebchIng, always heretofore recon.
mended, are the most Unsatisfactory 10 their
results, and that the best and most pro.
Fductive are heavy soils that were merely
well plowed aud he roots were placed in
hol, dug into The hard and previously un.
disturbed clay, and then firmly trodden in
at planting Nor does. be stand aoue in
the advocacy OF these views; otheIs concur
fully; bat while depfecatiug the expendi
ture of SO much labor n tie. preparation
aud combination of the clsys by strenching,
they also insist apon the importance aud
necessity of thorough uuder drainage upon
such soils, putting the tiles thirty fee: apart
but preieiug 10 have them at sixteen feet
intervals, or even eight ieet that is be-
tween every Two rows Those who have
experimental with tile, will point with the
pride OF au old ditcher to the happy fleets
produced upon the vines that come within
their Influence. y,
On Other portions Of the Lake Shore
region we fnd similar views are maintained
as to the vaoc of clays; but we shall also
find many eminently Successful Vineyards
situated upon gravels, especially those
which contain portion OF clay, aud here
the happy result is no doubt traceable 10
the good natural drainage which gravel
affords. Even among the Islands referred
to, there are many very profitable 9plauta-
tions that are similarly situated upon stony
and gravelly land Gs @ell as those upon
clay. ...so. ..., i ,.. ,.aa,
Pure sands are not generally successful
when used as grape lands, unless they are
based upon clay subsoil in which case they
have proved emnenllY satisfactory in some
regions, and with some varieties Of the
grape. About Cleveland and at various
points along the Lake Shore regior, there
are ancient beaches well known as the
Lake ridges, which are composed of, sandy
soil countaing however, qnite mixture OF
other ingredients, and sometimes consisting
of loamy soil rather than sand Upon
some of these the grape is cultivated quite
pro6tably, and there are not wanting adyo.
Gates Of asndy soils for vineyards. In these
situations it will probably be found that
there is sufficiency of aluminous materia!
10 conueXion with the sands, or in the
subsoi, as may readily be seen in excaya-
tions and in the exposed bluffs along the
like. 1t is our firm belief that the vsriete,
of grapes we chiefly cultivate do love clay,
and we know they will find il if within
their reach, and that they can penetrate i.
with their roots even at great depths, and
where it has mover been disturbed by the
hand of man. This was satisfactorily
proved in.the vineyard of Mr.. r. Buchanan
of Cincnnatti, some years ago, by opening
pit among The vines;. after digging be
low the trenched soil into the hard clay,
which could scarcely be loosened by the
pick, and when he had reached a depth OF
four feet there was still an abundance Of
grape roots to be seen forcing their way
into this uopromissing and apparently i'm
practable soil.