The true Democrat., 1856-11-04
MO-. f..
Grape Culture.

A correspondent of the Prairie Farmer gives the following plain and simple directions for the cutur and management of the grape, which wi ill answer we'll for such persons as do not like to wade through the long details of elaborate works There are, however, two points which we should correct-tirst, 1t Is not necessary that thesun's rays reach the fruit, provided the leaues ere fully erposed, and have plenty of air and room. Grapes would never grow nor rpen at all If every leaf were removed, and a full expo- sure given. Secondly, do not "pinch off the wood just above the punches" or there will not be leaves enough to mature the fruit in the best manner; there should be at leas. three or four leaves above each bunch. If any one doub.s try both ways, and experiment will tell the story.
 As to culture, make the soil rich, deep and dry, as before said, and plant the vines about ten feet apart not too deeply, but so that the roots may have the full benefit of the light and wa fmth of the sun. Erect trelis after the manner of picket fence, q like this better than the horizontal bars save that the upright bars are longer, and placed further apart. Along these bars train and tie up the vines. In the latter part of February or early in March, or at any time before the sap starts, cut away large portion Aof the last years growth, and cut
 
 length.
 Get book it you ohoose-Downing's or Thomas works on trdit-but use your own good sense and go ahead. I know that finer clusters and finer favored fruit may be grown by careful pruning, mainly according to the directions laid down in the books but if a man has neither books nor time to look into one every time he puts his spade into the earth or his knife to the branches-why let him raise them without the books, depending on his own good judgment. l have seen Isabella vines do well and bear full crops of very good fruit, which never tet the keen bade. But ina rich soll, the Isabella Is such rampant grower-- such bouncing bet sort of a thing that 1t needs good dressing out every year, and in summer some ot the branches often need cut ting away, so as to let in light and air to the fruit. Never mind about the rule for this; re- fleet upon what you are going to do You know that fruit ripened in the shade has but little or very poor flavor compared with fully exposed specimens; and you know also that the leaves serve to prepare the food for the nourishment of the fruit, which the sap brings up in solution from the earth; so weighing these two considerations the summer pruning becomes an easy matter. It Is a capital plan to pinch of the growing wood just beyond tho ouhches, 50 that all the nouflshment may go to swell the fruit.
 Any good, rich, dry soil will produce good grapes. You need not think that because you have not got bones, animal refuse, oyster shells, guano, superphosphate of lime, and what not that you cannot raise grapes-no. mol Get a few vines, brother farmers, and try d hand at tiny word for it you will find as have that you get repaid for your trouble. The time is not far distant when this superb fruit will be raised ln abundance by every farmer and me- chanic. Any one who has rod of ground eau raise a grape vine. 1 have seen vine which was planted al the corner of house, and was trained up and over the house, and had extend cd itself 10 some instance along the opposite side. which produced yearly five or seven bushels of fine fruit; with no special prepara- ton of the soil and receiving no other applica- tion that little lime once a year, and portion of the studs from the weekly wash."