Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-06-02
agGssnt&tral.
CULTIVATION OF VINES.

j
SIR,-Perhaps there is nothing relat-
ing to our common gardening, in which
people more generally err than in the
manner of cultivating melons, cucum-
bers, and other running vines. laIlude
to the practice of having too many plants
grow in a hill. As far as my observation
has extended, it appears to be the COM
mon practice to suffer as many as from
four to ten or twelve vines to grow in a
hill. This, believe, is an error.-One
good thrifty vine in a hill, 1 am satisfied
is generally enough. have been con-
fiCmed in this opinion, by seeing within
year or two, the effects of few ex-
perimenls on the subject.
Sometime in August 1922 visited a
friend in Salem, who had two considera-
bic water melon fields. One of them
was cultivated the usual way, that is in
hills about three and half feet distant,
and with several vines in a hill. The
other was planted in hills eight feet dis
tant, each way, and but one vine 10 hill
was suffered to grow. Both fields were
well manured, and in good order; but
the difference in the crop was as great
as III the manner of their cultivation. In
the first mentioned field the melons
were of an ordinary size and quality, and
the vines were much bIighted. Insthe
other field, where the hills were eigh,
feet apart, the vines had no appearance
OF blight upon them. aud the melons at
that time, though they were not fully
grown, were much the largest ever
saw. When they were gathered, as
have since been informed, one of them
weighed above forty pounds, and sever
al between thirty and forty pounds each.
The advantage 10 be derived from
having vines grow single, is, believe,
nearly as great, respecting the cultiva-
ton of cucumbers as of melons.
A neighbor of mine, who is very Curl
ons in these things, last season, took me
into his garden to see the effect of an ex.
pertinent of his.-He had planted his Gu
cumbers in twa rows of hills, MANFRED
alike. In part of them he had let LIT
one vine grow in hill, in a part two,
and in another part three or more vince
IN hill. At that time, where there was
but one in hill, the vines were very
houIlshing, all the leaves green, the GU
cumoers very fair, and he assured me
that he had gathered from them as rnanv
AS from the same number of hills that
had three or more vines in hill. That
part containing two vines in hill was
.vislbiy different, they appeared less lux
urlant than those of but one; and in that
part containing three or more vines in a
NIL, they were apparently on the de-
cline, the leaves had mostly become vel
low and some of them black.
Perhaps it may be thought that eight
feet apart is great distance for water
melon vines to grow and singly too; but
when i. is considered that single vine.
in rich soil, will extend over a rod or
even more of ground, think it must ap-
pear rational that in rich sol! il is not
too great a distance. Doubtless in light
sandy or graveliy soil, lightly MANFRED,
bait that distance may be preferable.
The Cultivation Of tie ZINE begins to
attract the attention of many in different
parts of the country. Every year new
vineyards are planted and old ones are
enlarged; good wines, too, are made.
which at moderate prices, afford hand
some profit.
Our attention has been more particu-
iarly called TO this subject at this time,
by seeing letter from Mr.. Elchclber-
ger of York, Penn. in which he has been
offered two hundred dollars a year per
acre for four acres of his vineyard. This
olier was made by person {" who under
stands the business well, and was brought
up TO it," and believes that the vines and
cuttings from these four acres, at a low
e,and with an ordinary crop ofgrapes,
will produce 3,672 dollars.
l4not thi' well worth the attention of
our farmers and planters ~ Journal.
10 the Butter Makers IN .hcrr England.
TT1l