The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-04-14
Agricultural.

SuccrssruL GRAPE CULrURE.-Having
received several inquiring letters in relation
to Mr.. McKay's method of cultiva,ng the
crane. have concluded to answer all through
vonr columns. | should have done it ere this,
hnd received the following information r.
Mr.. +. A. Mckay, OF Naples, Ontario county,
sooner.
In IAN article headed ga profitable acre in
western New York" published in your col
umns list fail. there is a great mistake re-
p .cinc the quantity Produced Instead OF
ten tons the actual yield was little over H.
onO lbs OF grapes on an acre. But this must
still, be considered great yield, and very
profitable one. Mr. Mckay says that the a
mount over 10 cents petlb which he recei-
Cd for his grapes, will pay all the expenses
of cultivation gathefing, and getting to mar
ket. This wouli leave 81 100 clear profit.
Said acre was planted in the spring OF Is
4s, one half with vines one year Old, and the
remainder with those aged two vears-1oo
vines to the acre. . rod apart each way.
Mr. Mckay thinks on middlig steep side
bill, Il teet each way would not be too near.
His vines are trained in all cases so as to
rive then, the greatest amount of sunshine.
Far p,anting pits were dug from % to 3 feet
deem and 6 to 8 feet in diameter. At The
bottom If the pits he placed 'Hten heavy loads
ofrcfuse from the curriers' shop, ard eighty
dead cXen," drove ofwlich had been driv-
en- into Naples at the commencement or VIM
ter, NJ ! a large portion Of them having cled
dnriN. the winter and spring. Mr.. Nchay
also uses well rotted barnyhrd manure, aVo-
Is all fresh ard uattrmcntGi Inanures. His
vines now measure on an average over Il
inclcs IN circumference around the body, nor
Is there any essential difference in size be
tween tn g. parts Of the vineyard planted with
ore or two GEAR o vines. They are trained
ion wire trclses 8 feet high, ruaning nearly
north and south. No. u iron wire is ON
meni led, with wooden Stat inches wide,
feet above the gr5uui, an! similar one Il
long the top Of the trellis. H. takes no fruit
from lis vines until the 4th fall after planting.
The lr,t year but one the cane or shoot is
suffered to gov, AMI that is cut back or d
budsfron the ground the next winter. The
Second 'ason two shoots are allowed to grow,
The third season, tie trellis is built; and the
two canes are three or four feet each in
length, and brought down horizontally and
fastened with leathcrs to the Stats along the
bottom Of the trelis Tie third season, ev-
cry alternate bud is allowed to grow, and
tlaaol to tie stats 1t the top Of the tGe!!ls,
aud strapped here about the first of Septem-
b"r. The fourth season. the vines will bear
abundanly, but a vine of 3 inches span
(around the body) should only be allowed to
bear 5 lbs Of irHit, and he increased to ~ lbs
for every alditiona' inch Of girth to any ex-
tent THIS can be safely done with good
culture.
The ground between the rows If vines may
be cultivated with any low vegetable or plant
desired, which will help dcfr,y n large por-
tion of the expenses OF cultivation Mr. NC
Kay also cautions against needing the advice
ofmrserymen frequently given, oplant vines
as near together as or s feet.
Such has been the success of Mr.. Mckay
that his experience must prove acceptable to
all those who are about to begin the cultiva-
ton Of this agreeable and healthy fruit. If
well cultivated, it will pay well. Nor is there
any danger off toe. many grapes being grown,
ana the m arket overstocked, at least for many
years, since the demand increases faster than
the supply, as all cultvators well know
The Isabella grape is perfectly hardy in our
climate.-Cor. Cowntry Gentlemen.