The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1853-09-06
9or tbe 9armers.
From tile Southern Ag,iculturist.
The Grape.

The Grape.
There is no fruit more easily cultivated than
the grape. Of this, there are great number
of varieties, both foreign and native. From
the i'll success which has attended the cultva.
,tion Of the former, their out door cultivation
cannot be recommended, unless as matter OF
experiment. Several of the native varieties
deserve especial attention. The Lenoir the
Isabella, the Catawba, and Blands Madeira,
all succeed with a little care. The Diana,
Seeding of the Catawba, promises to be an &C.
QUESTION. The Lincoln Grape, recently brought
to notice by DR.. Butt, of Lincolaton, North
Carolina, is said to be most excellent wine
and table grape. The Herbemont Madeira, so
extensively cultivated and distributed by the
late Nicholas Herbemont, esq.,, of Columba,
has long been favorite. 1t is a very superior
grape for wine and though subject to rot, usu.
ally natures good crop. This grape is known
also as the Warrentou, and was introduced as
early as 1894 into South Carolina. 1t is of
foreign origin, and is one of the few instances
of successful accimation. Mr.. Herbemonl's
name is worthy to he associated with it, as he
distributed it extensively and urged its cultiva-
tion. We have growing large native grape
first brought to notice by my excellent and
worthy friend. Dr.. George B. Pearson, of Fair
field District 1t has a slight taste of the com.
mon winter grape, hut when at full maturity,
of delightful flavor. 1t is an abundant bearer,
almost entirely exempt from rot, and one Of
the latest, coming to maturity just before the
early frosts, and is therefore, highly priced
The Zin6ndel is one Of the few foreign grapes
that promises to succeed without the aid Of
glass.
The grape is easily cultivated and may be
increased to any extent from cuttings, which is
the easiest method of propagating the different
varieties. Good, sound wood should be Sc.
lected, and this should be cut into lengths of
eighteen to twenty two inches These should
be planted in trench suitably prepared in
sandy or moist soil, one foot apart in the drill.
They should be inserted somewhat sloping,
with one bud out, the second eye just below
the surface. Should the one above fail, the
second one will, in many instances grow: The
longer cuttings are intended to be planted af.
ter the French method, which is done by in
sertiug both ends in the trench, taking care to
have good eye in the centre, from which the
vine will start. A good location to strike cut.
tings is the east side of board fence; in
trenches prepared with charcoal dust, they
usually strike freely. They should be well
cultivated and kept free from weeds, end shoul
the weather prove dry, well watered until their
growth is ensured. They will be fit to trans
plant after having grown one year.
The soil best adapted to the growth of the
grape, is that of a sandy or solicious soil but
almost any soil will grow the vine, provi-
ded the subsoil is dry, the right kind Of
manure is used, and the proper method observ-
ed in planting. Wet subsoils are in all in
stances injurious to their growth. Any loca.
tion that is gently slopng, can be made suita-
bic for the vineyard, provided the vines are
planted by making trenches. These should be
opened to the depth of three feet, and the bot
tom filled up with stones and other rubbish to
. serve as an underdrain. This should be filed
up to within the proper distance Of the surface
to set the vines, with chips from the shoe ma.
ker's shop, old shoes, leather and scraps from
the lanyard incorporated with the soil which
has been taken out. The vines then should be
planted by spreading the roots carefully and
filling up with mixture Of top soil, leached
ashes, broken or ground bones, and portion
of we'll rotted leaves or good COW or hoy pen
manure. They should be planted ten or twelve
feet apart in the trenches, and if trained upright,
the trenches may be made eight to ten feet
apart
The most expeditions way 10 obtain sup.
ply of good fruit is to graft those varieties
which are found to succeed best, upon the old
varieties, which are subject to rot, and which
should be extripated as rapidly as poss blc.-
The scions should be. cut early in January, be-
fore the sap begins to flow and buried in some
cold exposure until wanted fer use. They
should be cut from two to three buds in length,
leaving one Inch or more below the eye to
form the tongue. The best time to insert them
is the last of March or the first of April. The
proper season for the operation is hen the buds
begin to swell and expand, and we have gcner-
ally found il advantageous to defer 1t as late as
possible, as it does not matter If the stock is
putting forth leaves, So the scions are not push
jng.
Common cleft grating is generally adopted.
Take away the earth from aronnd the vine in
tended to be grated; saw it off three or four
inches below The surface, and with strong
knife or chisel and malet, split the stock, insert
small iron wedge into the cleft to keep it open
until the scion siuSerted; then shape the scion
wedge fashion and insert into the cleft so that
the inner portion Of the bark of The scion and
stock come together bit Of catch is all that
is necessary to hcpp fhc Garth FROM fsins into