New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-21
LAKE ERIE GRAPES.

Charles Carpenter Of Keleys Island in Lake Erie, OF
Sanduky Bay gives an account Of some very successful
experiments in grape culture that island lie says
The soil Of Keleys Island consists of few inches
vegetable mould sting subso OF hard clay In whc
is mixed pebbles and sand, mostly OF lime stone an
occasionally err stalls Of sulphufe Of iron are found
when the whole mixed by blowing, they make
pretty stiff soil well supplied with line sulphur ana iron
and yield heavy crops Of whoat or M0st OF The Isl
ands nearly level or having gentle slope, just sufficient
10 carry of the surface water.
Where grape vines planted the ground is subsoed
eighteen inches deep and undordrained The first plant
ing of grapes in 1912 Or ~, when few fsabeas
were planted in gardens. The Catawba introduced
two or three year, later The unusual growth Of the Wins.
and superior quality Of fruit attracted the attention Of
persOns acquainted with their culture, and generally elc
ted expressions Of surprise and induced several pesoas
engage in the culture for the sale Of fruit and wine
making.
In the spring of 1851 the writer set part Of fell where
corn OF wheat had been raised Tor five successive years
The ground subsoiled and Undetermined Layers aud
cuttings each year old used In February 1882
the growth cut down to two aad four inches om the
ground
ing to the strength Of the plant The side shoots
picked Of twice in the early part Of the season, IN al from
three FIVE feet from the root after which a allowed
TO grow. In November come Of the lsaOellas had two
shoots each eighteen feet long, others four shoots each
fourteen feet long.
some Of the Catayba have to- others four shoots ten
feet long EACH Of wood Wen nponed nearly the ends
No manure Of any kind has ever been put on this field
except eached ashes aud that does not
alJgaT "a have Increased the GROWTH al all.
The Weld of fruit has been uniformly heavy until the
vines injured by the severe winter Of ls3l2 and
again by long continued and heavy rains while in bios
som
Midew Is sometimes seen on the Isabella but never yet
on the Catawba. The rot have never seen but once.
The training here is entirely tres, some made Of
woodland some Of wire That Of wire made thus pet
posts twenty five feet apart bore hall inch holes at sgta
bic distances for three wires say twenty forty and
sixty inches from the ground; or If for four wires, At
eighteen thirty forty six and sixty do Then draw in
wi number nine the whole lcDlth
Of posts letting the end como through the ast post about
four inches drive in hafnch pin Of hard wood from the
Outside end give the end Of the wire turn round the
pin close to The post Then from the other end draw the
wire tight and fGsen before The end posts should DO
sot firm with a brace from the inside.
Number nine enneeed wire Is four and half cents per
pound and weighs just ore pound per nesl rod Wire
tes is put up very rapidly and costs less than half that
OF wood.
It better also for the elurten can hang singly and
have full benefit OF the air.
lde vine las teen made for the last three years
has been pronounced by good judges to be Of the first
quality.
Grapes win keep until May or June without decayinx
once PIT bushe IN basket, covered with sheet Of
paper aud set the basket in the cellar barrel Of ap
PIES In March, they were sound and fresh and In better
conclion Than me russell apples.
The influence Of the Lake has marked effect on our
vegetation, reiardng in the spring and preventing late
ost In sixty years that peacheshaye been grown here
they have never been injured by spring frost.
In The fall the water retains the warmth acquired during
the sufficient to extend our season consderaby
hcvoud that Of the main land at distance from the lake
We never have a frost before the Goth u October and Of
ton not until much later The fret this season to DO injury
was November 18TH when the thermometer fell 70 twenty
eight degrees until which time peppers tomatoes and the
Ike were untouched trife Of white frost had been
observed before in localities but not sufficient 10 do
injury.
The severe droufhs Of summer arc considerably mi-
gated by the moisture arising from the lake While at the
same time og destructive to the grape lesye Of
rare occurrence in summer or autumn.
The population Of Toledo Ohio, Jan. J. 1883 was ST
being gain of 3,os5 over the previous {esn ,he