Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1845-11-12
From the Farmer and Mechanic.
Cultivation of the Grape.

From the Farmer and Mechanic.
Cultivation of the Grape.
SlNGsING, Angus. 4, 1915.
YOU requested mo 10 send you written statement
of my mode Of treating tho grape vino. In the
first place, dig holo two and half TO three
feet deep, according TO tho length of the vino,
never loss than two, about three feet square. Nv
renson for doing is to get the roots beyond the
influence Of tho sun. as they are naturally in.
cncd to approach tho surface, causing tho vine
to throw out unusual quantity of foliage and
fruit; and when tho dry season commences, they
feel the drought Immediately. After the vino
has boon established for three vcars, dig down
and cut off overy root from tho main body. In
doing so, dig trench each sido Of tho vino n
foot deep, from two to three feet wide and ill it
up with all sorts of rubbish, such as poa- brush,
bones, shoes, &c. chop up all my vine trimmings
in pieces of about Of ght inchos in length, and
throw them in tho trench. thon throw the ground
taken from the ditch over tho whole. then cover
tho surface ms far Us circumstances will permit,
with long litter pea brush &C., in order to exclude
the sun as much as possible. By excluding the
the ground becomes moist, and is pierced
with thousands Of anglc-worm holcs whenever
We have shower, the rain filters through and is
carried down those holes to the roots. do not
think it necessary for the sun to touch tho earth
at oil; and this think hnve fully proved. have
ono grapo vine that planted in tho rear Of my
kitchen, which it afterwards become necessary to
occupy for a wood-hOuse. Not liking TO cut it
away, bent il down and laid the floor over it SO
that il has been with tho roots entirely under the
building. Every year this vine produced
much fruit i; is capable Of sustaining. 1t has
a northcry exposure, and the grapes usually
the first ripe on the place. do not think the
berry quiet rs largo those that stand in more
open exposure; bnt the flavor is equally fine.
h0,,u sbotJ
ted shallow, and the surface not covered; this dry
weather tho fruit has entirely porished. The next
vine to il was planted in the exposure, and
same depth, but was afterwards filled in SO as to
bring the root about three feet under the sufucc,
which was not covered with rubbish; the fruit has
not wiltcd but is not the size Of those vines
which had covered surface. have one per-
pcndicular arbor running north and south, and
from the top of the arbor have conducted several
vines east and west. Tho fruit On tho vines
running west ripen ten days or q fortnight sooner
than those running cast. havo changed the
vines, and tho result was the samo. | occupy no
more ground with that Tor than tho more width
Of the post, which is about sovcn inches; and
cultivate on each side Of it, close up to the post.
DO not think 1t necessary. in ordor to cultivate
grapes to any extent, to occupy any moro space
han tho width Of tho post | think the vino is
all tho better for having any sort of n green corp
90 the surface near 1t, as to exclude tho sun.
was gong 10 SGT 4 vineyard, l should set
row Of posts six feet apart, thon another row Of
posts parallel to them, thirty feet distant from tho
hrst row. would then plant vine at each post,
conduct number IL wiro from tho top of one
post to tho other. then could use tho intcrme-
date ground for any short crop of garden vege-
tables wished. They would all do wc; and
by training single vine up the post and across
The wire. would get full many grapes. if not
more. than when tho whole arbor was occupied;
and thu wind has effect upon it, tho wire being
50 flexible that they do suffer as much as those
that arc trained in an arbor. The posts ought to
be high enough TO drive under with horse
My time of trimming is late in the spring; at
least nevcr commence trimming until the vine
will bleed freely. which great many people cou-
slider great de,rment; but when cut out old
wood, always cut it three or four foot longer
than intend it shall be, so that when the first
cut becomes gumncd over, | cut away some
lure to saw my vines are tho largest in the State
Of New York. for ,hoir age. The great difficulty
With is, that they are so loaded with fruit that
lam Obliged to pick of large quantities when
green. In consequence of the superior flavor of
my grapes, owing think to the surface of tho
ground being covered and titled | have no trouble
10 selling them in advance, as have now done,
foe the last two years-Messrs. Hope. corner of
Chamber street and West Broadway, have enga-
god them.
In trimming. suffer old wood 10 remain
That can possibly remove, and trim tho ones
wish for bearers. entirely smooth. also make a
second trimming in the course of the season, by
removing all the middle growth.
tours, &c.