Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-09-23
! THIRD PRUNING.

INTO the top. But, in my opinion, archlng over
loes the business, and csap, whose tendency
IS always upwards, will most generally stop at.
the eyes on the upper part of the arch, and de-
velope them strongly; and those. below will put
out very weakly, or not at all. While, when the
cane is laid horizontalIy, they all get their share
much more equally divided. The vine should
also be strongly fastened to the large stake. All
who plant vines must plant out Osisr Willow,
whose twigs are superior to any others for tying,
although l have made use of the young twigs of
Black Gum, or Of the Wild Willow, and Of the
bark of young Hickory.
During this summer the vines will throw out
strong branches, which must be fastened to the
stakes as they grow, until they reach the top,
when they may be left to hang over. Plow and
hoe as usual; plow deep in winter and in sum-
mer make use of a scraper. After this, the
winter pruning is always, more or less repeti-
tion of this last; one spur and one or two bear
ing canes, according to the strength of the vine.
In pruning let the cut be clean and close, leav-
ing no small ends Of dead wood, which will
surely injure the old stem. Among old vines,
a small-toothed butchcr-saw will greatly assist
the operation.
{ I do not approve of summer pruning vines
and fruit require all the shelter they can master
to preserve them from our burning sun. Persons
engaged in the grape culture should not lose
sight OF pruning; it is to moderate and equalze
the production Of fruit, thereby improving its
quality, and sparing the health and life Of the
vine. We are often told that this or that person
has q vine, which is never pruncd, climbs to the
summit of high trees, bears abun;lantly, is very
old, etc. A single vine is very different from
twelve hundred to the acre!-and in many parts
Of Italy, where they have adopted the tree cul-
ture, the quality Of the wine, which formerly
ranked higa, has completely been destroyed.
never wish to see my vines average more than
from twelve to fifteen punches each. Quality is
better than quantity.
The Catawba seems to have usurped the most
prominent place among the natives. AT the
West it is by far the greatest lavorite; perhaps,
there others do not succeed as well. At the
South, most persons are following in the wake
OF our Western brethren, and have taken it toI
granted that none others are worth cultiyating
and condemn without q trial, or even without
knowing them. The Catawba is certainly a
beautiful looking grape, and great bearer; but
its hopied and wild musky flavor (which is un'
fortunately too strongly retained in the winc,) is
o very serious objection for palate accustomed
to more delicate fruit or beverage. The "bo
quet,n or perfume, Of wine is u precious quality
but this has :" too much OF the good thing" .
Foreign grapes must be discarded for wine
making. After fair trial, we, like many others
have come to the conclusion that they cannot
stand our climate.
OF all the natives that have come within my
reach, give decided preference to the Warren
and the Isabella both great bearers, but, like
the Catawba, subject to the rot. The former
makes o delicate wine Of the color of Madeira
but not so strong; the latter. q light beautiful
colored Claret very similar to Bordeaux wines
i, also, like what we here call the burgundy and
Black. July, (both hemisnamcd, )-the first being
e-bess table grape we have in this, country, and
making a delightful Madeira colored wine the
Black Julysnakes a very dark, rich, red wine
not unlike Port These two syincs are not great
bearers, but tthei isuit does not Net
E Sse&, s& 52.s%s; MAKING VINE.
Z Ny process for making wine IS distrent from
that followed in the West and in Georgia. The
grapes being gathered, and all unsound or green
berries removed, they are thrown into large tubs
or half barrels, aud thoroughly crashed with the
hand; the contents are then emptied into large
rats. (hogshcals,) which are filed to within
fourteen inches Of the top; cover these Wit!
homespun aud boards, to keep out gnats and
flies. In a very s.ort time fermentation com
mcnces (; the mass swclls and rises 10 the top
and should be pressed down, with q wooden pad
die, two or three times per day. The next. morn.
ing the clear juice is drawn from fascet, near
the bottom, and poured into barrel; when no
more juice comes out, the mass. in the vat is
then carried to the press and what liquid remains
in it is squeezed out; this is usually vCrr thick
and is put into another barrel as it is ct f:eriol
quality Be sure that youc barrels arc filled to
within three inches OF the bang; less than that
would lcave TOO much III" il contact WIN ;ic
wine. aEd would cause it 10 sour; more than
that would cause it TO o"er.lo" IN the icrE:2nIa
ton which, .lr q few days will be very brisk
when this hls subsidized, Eli the barrels to ore
inch Of the bung, with wine reserved for ih;,;
purpose, and close the bungs ;%.il'y. s., rary
careful that the BARREL tabs. watts, c:"., i!e -!
perfectly clean and sweet! q; the slightest &"grec
OF uncIcanii..tss would ha fatal to the wInc.
There uor remains n1liiiES 10 90 until thc
next winter, VIXEN tllc ,sna is draw, i;o j;hcG
barre!s in ordar to clarity ii. The dar:i Cir. is
allowed to terInen IN ;ar sI,i.is !ioc.h.rr ar 1--we
days, in order to c>:r;.c; 81! .c or; i; i"i.
treated as the others.
Another it.:In, o:lcyr', y. .a: = be ;'.,s-
lively Indispensable, a.y On @s' ~ s.I,a
very considerable. is !: r~jlo. !,.l;:.. ..i,c
wiac-ccIiari have been 'et y,,,.: s,sai.' tYor,..
houses On !ir surae., alG 81. as..@ io=, 80 1.iau
from ac'::Ey, except whe:e wc o7Ri@ r-aea It i"
leakage, ur snme Other u:.sy. ...G j, c.ricr
still more 70 cheaper a..i sil:lp!!iy a ..,.s;ess,
and rcmoyc.;ii mystery ira:n i, nave l,t;. 1T
from the planting and pru::!ils 10 tle ho.iug. vi
the vine. They are fully IS iHte..iiige@t ~ the
peasantry Of Europe, and mach more 10 be dc.
pended upon. Here we h;:.. ana;hcr decided
advantage over the Western i;ulks, WHO are de-
pendent upon the caprces Ct foreign i::bogers,
and many ere the airs they paS Oh when they
Come TO this country
By follosipg the above difec.i l2, which |
have enitie;.vured TO give III s;:ch niEncr rs 10
be within misunderstanding u. ell, anG making
use OF little judgment in modifying them ;lc-
cording to circumstances, the most inexperienced
farmer can set himself cat vineyard, and siiill
will come with experience. / wish 10 sec IS
many as possible engage i'll the business, as the
more We are the better it will be for all, and
centuries will elapse before it ceases 10 pay. We
hope, ere long, to sec a Southern Society Of
Wine Growers, with its center at Augusta, offer.
ing to the world pure and luscious wiucs, OF all
hues and of all favors.
| should state that DR.. AicDonaalds mode of
planting vines is more simple than mine. lie
makes no ditches,, but only holes, about sixteen
i.ches in diameter and eighteen deep, and plants
the cuttings in these. His vines are rtEarEa-
bly, fine, rs all who see them can testify bitches
require more labor at first, but then there is the
advantage Of having that part Of your land hro-
ken which the plow cannot afterwards reach.
A. c.