The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-28
THE MORNING NEWS: MONDAY, JUNE Is, 1897

OF these requirements, and determining to
meet them as fully as possible.
This is a requisite to success in any
undertaking. There is no crop of like
value more readily grown than grapes
when gone a Alright.
As with all other crops. success will be
more easily attained by some than by
others. The one possessing soil naturally
adapted to grapes will as a matter of
course be more likely to meet with success
than the one who must render soil adapt
able by artificial means.
There are very few indeed who possess
such soil as needs no amendment by the
eultivator for the successful growth of
grapes.
In the majority of cases more or less
must be done in the way of draining and
fertilizing the soil to put and keep it in
shape for the proper growth and contin-
uance of the vine. The teachings of long
experience extending through centuries
have evolved certain facts which, for sake
OF breVity, we call science and we have
only to acquaint ourselves with these facts
to pursue intelligently the business we
undertake.
What are the facts in relation to grape
culture?
l. If the soil is not naturally drained,
drainage must be secured artihcially.
2. If the soil is lacking in the elements
OF fertility these must be supplied?
3. If a due amount OF moisture is not
naturally supplied, it must be supplied by
artificial means one way or another.
4. In the selection of variety or species,
climatic conditions must be regarded.
Practical grape culture may be said to
rest upon these four facts as foundation.
The literature of grape culture is but an
enlargement or amplification of these fun
damental truths Novelty may be supplied
to the subject from time to time without
interfering with these facts, in no ways
altering their significauon.
Most of our soils are sufficiently drain
ed naturally. and it is only here and there
that the soil selected for grape culture
will need any artificial aid. Wherever
the need is indicated it should not be neg
lected.
A moist but well-dralned soil is in the
highest degree favorable to the growth of
the grape, as is indicated by the vine in
its native state possessing almost eXclu-
sively this kind of soil. Our hillsides,
however, can be made to afford a very
congenial location for it's successful
growth. Soils naturally dry will grow
most of the grapes than can be grown
in the south. The Alabama experimental
station, along with numerous individual
growers, has shown that the very poorest
knobs and hillsides can be fitted without
undue expenses. For the successful
growth of grapes the most approved sorts
for southern use are: Concord, morris
Early, Ives, Delaware, Champion, Mag
ara, Martha. Brighton, Nortons, Catawba
(scuppernong).
There are other varieties that do well
in the south, but the above short list pre-
sents those that are the best approved for
our use Thousands of grapevines are be
ing planted in the south and 1t will be but
a short time before all doubtful varieties
are eliminated. 1t is well understood that
the grape in the south is freer from mil
dew" and other diseases than it is in the
north, and it requires no great display of
Judgment to make it's culture a success.