Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-06-16
CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE.

CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE.
There is no department of agriculture
which has been so Systematically neglected
10y farmers generally as the cultivation of
fine and delicious fruits. This is a matter
of surprise whether we regard profit, or the
pleasure and satisfaction % be deriSed from
an abundant supply for our own famiies.--
How delightful aud wholesome at all sea-
sons of The year las we may five WILL in
the bosom Of our families, surrounded, per-
haps, by our friends and neighbors, to re-
fresh ourselves with the various gifts of Po-
mona.
There is hardly any fruit which can be
more easily cultivated, or may be made
longer to administer 10 our pleasure OF prof
il, than the grape OF this, there is almost
an endless variety, both foreign and native
none of the former, and but few of the lat
ter, should be cultivated by farmers gene
rally. The Isabella, Catawaba and Clinton,
may be classed among the best native va
rietes-though in all parts of the country,
are some wild, nameless varieties, rich and
delicious, for the neglect Of the propagation
of which, our farmers are without excuse,
for the grape is wholesome, and may Justly
be called one of the greatest delcacies
which an all-wse and bouniiful Creator has
bestowed upon man.
This fruit is easily cultivated, and may
be increased TO any extent with no expense
but the labor-from cuttings which may be
obtained in thousands, from any person pru-
ming his vines or some exquisite variety
may be obtained from the hedge or the
swamp, propagated to any extent. Will you
give this stlhlpct VDlr attention
The best grapes are superior to either
the peach, the apple, or the pear-comes
after the former are pretty much gone, and
may be kept through the winter as well as
the apple or the pear For winters use,
they should be packed in layers in small
boxes, with stratum of common cotton
batting between the layers Thus they may
be kept till March, better in flavor than
when they were first gathered from the vines
They should be kept cool, dry, and away
from the frost
The best method of cultivation in the
garden, is on single trellis, running North
and Sputh-the posts OF which should Ell
Their be cedar or have cedar bottoms, and then
be spliced about ten feet high, aud have
strips Of board about two inches wide nail
cd on to them, about three feet apart
The usual way of cultivating them, on an
arbor, with an arch, is bad for the reason
that those clusters which do not get the
sun, will seldom ripen well, and if they do,
they will be without favor.
They should Immediately after the fall OF
the leaves, be thoroughly pruned and have
every runner Of new wood cut into fine buds
or eyes of the old wood. They should be
open and free. New shoots should be en-
couraged near the ground in order TO have
the bearing wood low, and to protect the
f frames from the winds.
They may be cultivated at the foot of old
and worthless fruit trees, or on shade trees,
and after three or four years of protection
from the cattle, they will give you no far
Their trouble Thus the care and expense
of trelesing and pruning, will be wholly
spared.
One single Isabella vine cultivated in this
way has been known to produce for the four
years past, from ten to fifteen bushels per
year. Such vine as this, in the vicinity
, ofour cities, or large manufacturing villages,
would yield more profit that two acres of
Indian corn.
Now farmers do you want to have few
bushels of fine grapes for winter, to cheer
the social circle, and gladden. the hearts of
your friends aud guests during our long
winter evenings! you hare but to ~iH 1t,
. and ii is dome. You can obtain vines for
twenty-five cents piece This luxury is
at the command ofthe rich and poor-then
90 ahead and adopt the mode of culture best
adapted to your circumstances, and for this
) advice we shall ask no greaterreward than
rich cluster Of delicious grapes, when, we
call on you three years from next February
if our life shall be so long continued unto
e us.-1 Traveller.