Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-08-03
farmer's 9rpartmnst,
[For the Germantown Telegraph J
A Visit to Calmdale Nurseries.


MAJOR P. Il. FREAsE: Dear Sir,-A few
days since ventured on short trip over TO
Lebanon, to see our mutual friend 5. Miller,
Esq.
was we'll aware that our friend was push.
ing the grape business with vigor, but l was
by no meaDs prepared to see so large a col.
lection as be managed, "by hook or by crook"
to collect together, both in variety and guam
tity.
Mr. Miller's great modesty prevents him
from "bloxing his own trumpet" SO please
excuse me If do it for him, in measure
but | assure you. friend Fress, | write no
more than the truth--aud not even the whole
truth.
! have occasionally grated in the roots,
wLrI the viCr1 werS n foil leaf about the
last week 10 May. Then the vines are past
the bleeding season, and have had the gratis
| to grow sometimes ten to thirty feet the
same season. The greatest difficulty with
me was to keep the gratis in good condition
so late in the season. The best psr that
have found. is to keep them in box Of
nearly dry earth in the cellar. Root grating
may be performed with success early in Feb
rusry, three to four weeks before the sap
starts or late in May, when the vines are in
Iull leaf In grating in the roots, there is
no occasion for using grating wax-smply
saving off the stock-or you may stick u
graft IN all the large roots, 10y cutting them
! of, splitting aud sticking q graft in each
tying the stock together las the split some.
times opens,) and covering up stock enG graft
with earth pot around a few sticks, and the
work is done.
But here at friend Nj Hers | saw many
gratis above the ground on large stocks,
three to SIX feet high. On some a branch
was cut oil and a graft or two inserted
utherS simply cut two inches long made in
the side OF vine or branch, graft inserted
a tight ligature placed around to keep all in
place, and well cemented over all with graft
log wax. Some OF the gratis had shot au
inch when inserted and it appeared as
though the gratis we're not aware OF being
severed from the parent vine, as they grew
right op. This was done the second week ID
June. 1t is quite simple operation; the
vine is cut of at any height you wish split
open in the usual manner OF cleft grating
the graft, one or more inserted tigh. liga
ture applied, aud we'll cemented, and ii:
done. Or, q slit cut down the side Of the
vine, two or more inches, the graft sloped of
on one side, stuck in, tied and cemepted
not necessary to fit the bark OF the graft ant
stock, as the sap circulates all through the
wood, only cement well if above ground.
This is an easy and speedy mode Of testing
new varieties, or changing old aud worthless
kinds. Many varieties, too are poor growers
on their own roots, and by placing them OF
healthy and vigorous stocks, it seems to in
fuse new life and health into them, and the!
grow with renewed strength.
BY raising grape vines from seed, abou
one half generally prove males, bearing n'
fruit, aud the great mass OF the rest will b'
inferior. But all may thus be grated ant
made to bear fruit OF any new varieties WI
wish. Or We may have large vines of worth
less kinds graft them over, and 10 year o
two, presto! what change Or, again, w
may place ns many varieties on one old stocl
as we may fancy, "white, black and speckled,
all grow harmoniously together
The lover of nature may thus employ hi
leisure moments iu most interesting, pleas
ing aUd profitable manner. The grating O
the grape vine in the hands of competen
operator, thps becomes as easy and simple a
the grating of any other fruit, aud with a
great prospect OF success the only precau
ton necessary appears to be, that the opera
tion is performed when there is none or yer
little flow of sap, and if above ground, vel
cemented to keep out air and moisture.
Yours Respectfully,
j. b. CARRIER
Columbia, Pa, June 27h, 1851.