Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-04-14
SUCCESSFUL GRAPE CULTURE.

Having received several inouiring letters in
relation to Mr.. McKay's method Of cultiva.
ting the grape, have concluded to answer
all through your columns. l should have
done it ere this, had received the following
information from Mr.. E. A. Mckay, Of Ma
Piles, Ontario county sooner.
In an article headed "A profitable acre in
western New York" published in your COL
umns last fall there is a great mistake res
pectiug the quantity produced. Instead of
ten tons, the actual yield was alittle over H.
600 TBS of grapes on an acre. But this must
still be considered a great yield, and a very
amount over 10 cents per ID, which he rece-
we'd for his grapes, will pay all the expenses
of cultivation, gathering. and getting TO mar
ket. This would leave Sl,l00 clear profit.
Said acre was planted in the spring Of
l848, one half with vines one year old, and
the remainder with those aged two years
loo vines 10 the acre. or rod rod apart each
way. Mr.. Mckay thinks on middling steen
side hill. IL feet each way would not be too
near. His vines are trained in all cases so as
to give them the greatest amount OF sunshine.
For planting, pits were dug from 2I to feet
deep and To feet in diameter. At the
bottom OF the pits he placed. ton heavy loads
Of refuse from the curriers' shop, and eighty
dead oxen," drove Of which had been driv.
en into Naples at the commencement of win.
ter, and large portion of them having died
during the winter and spring. Mr.. Mckay
also uses well rotted barn-yard manure, avoids
all fresh and unfermented manures. His
vines now measure on an average over le
inches in circumference aronnd the body nor
Is there any essential difference in size be-.
tween the parts of the vineyard planted with
one or two year old vines. They are trained
on wire trellises feet high, running nearly
north aud south. No, IL iron wir1 is recOnl.
mended, with wooden slat 3 inches wide.
feet above the ground and similar one
along the top Of the trellis. He takes no
irait from his vines until the 4th fall after
planting. The FIRST year but one tue cane or
shoot IS suffered Ia grow, and that is cut hack
or buds from the ground the next winter
The second season two shoots are allowed 10
grow, The third season, the trolis s hn!lt.
Aha lae two canes are "a three or four feet
eaeh 10 length, and brought down horizan,aly
ana fastened with feathers % the slais along
'hs bottom OF tie trellls. The third season.
every alternate bud 4 allowed 10 crow and
uaiasd 10 the slate al the TOP o. The trellis.
aud strapped here about The hrst OF Sspteto.
tsr' ihe fourth season. the vines will bear
snuhdaally bat vine Of inches span
Hioael the BODY should only be allowed 20
hssf , pa " tall, and be increased 70 10 ms
leF every additional Inch OF glrth 10 any az
'sas Ies can b safely done with good
ns g'osed hslvsaA he soss ofvnes may
% sslt.sAisi With any low vegetable on plalt
assl'sa, wheh vii Aslp dsifay a large por.
,ies o. tAs sEfaaass a ealllsailon. Mg. Me,
M also ezslioas agalnsi hssiihg ihs aAslss
s.Iss.!msq hsfasasly glsea. 70 plaai slnes
|" ssAf together ~ q az aistl
aaeh has hssa tbs snecsas of Mr. MeKax
ssl sis etpefisnes aasl Prove asespgabls %
~ h.ss she sfs sloai n hegla tLe eg.llg..
Won " ths sgsessbls aad hssllhy BAT ii
sci ss'ilf.issi a ssil pay ssll. 30 i there
sal ssAfef 4 ~ laAay srspss hslng gFasn.
Asa lhs eAfket tfslsisf ktd. a isasi NJ many
yssls, sipes lhs as1a.ad .asssa.ss kssst 49,
~ .-fplf, a "a eallssiass Ill aas~ I
~ ,e>i,s,'a ffsfs j psskeily hsg'lj y ~,
'N"HF =. tat4iff tsaHIalaa.