The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-12-26
Crane Culture at Hermann. Mo.

we ma IN Inc New i Ork IftOu!le an ar
ticle from the pen of an apparently. well
informed and experienced vine-grower,
upon the subject OF grape growing and
wine making, at Hermann, Missouri
From it we make the following extract
which we think VIII be found interesting
conclusions of the writer are those we have
several times urged upon our readers, viz:
that no occupation or pursuit affords so
large a profit as that of grapegrowing:
Eighty-one miles from ST. Louis, on the
southern bank of the Missouri River and
in the County of Gasconade, is the town of
Hermann. 1t contains about 1000 inhabi
tants. Two series of hills, scarcely more
than quarter of a mile apart, inclose the
town, and they terminate in bluffs at least
200 feet high. These have been cut down
to give passage to the Pacific Railroad
A street fronts the river. A street runs
back from the river. At the end Of it is Il
hill. On approaching the hill one sees an
other street open at right-angle, will, an
other hill at the end. Turning 1T the foot
of this hill is another street, and all along
are stores, churches, n market, and nice
residences. At last the country opens lit
tie there are more hills and valleys, and
one sees farm-houses, some in lofty situa-
tions. Meanwhile, one sees in gardens and
yards, on the hill-slopes and tops, grape
vines, or the stakes to which they are tied.
The hills around Cincinnati are high
Could you place other hills equally high
on their tops, you would have such hills as
are at Hermann.
American born. The rest are Germans,
mostly from Saxony and the county is set
tied up by the same people. They are all
for the Union. l seldom find a fruit grow
er who is Copperhead. There were only
forty slaves in the county when the war
commenced; where they are now il would
be hard to tell. Most Of the people speak
English, some of them quite well. They
seem interested in only two subjects-that
of grape growing and the war. They see,
they desire, no way to end it but by tear
ing up Slavery by the roots.
Mr.. George Husman, who recently was
one of the Missouri Delegates to Washing
ton, took me in charge. He has u large
nursery, and is an extensive grow
er. After visiting his fine orchard and
VINEYARD, OH the bluff below the town, and
tasting of his wines in his large wine cell
lars, we mounted two gray horses on our
way to visit other vineyards. We went in
to the town and out through zig gag streets.
First, we came to the vineyard of Mr., Poe
schel. living on q hill-slope. 1t is an i'm
proved one Of his own planting, being of
Norton's Virginia. In 1S47, he planted
seven acres of CataWDa, winch variety he
has abandoned. So have all the other vine
growers in Missouri. They say it is not
worth so much as the Virginia, even if it
does not rot.
The Norton's Virginia vine is vigorous,
hardy. and productive; starts two weeks
later than the Catawba; ripens two weeks
earlier, hence valuable for low grounds:
punches medium, compact, sweet and rich:
moderately juicy; makes an excellent
dark red wine; subject neither to mildew,
af-blight, nor rot. Its small size does
not fit it for a table grape so well as some
other kinds though for ones own use it is
good enough. When it was first planted
here, they inquired of Mr.. Longworth, who
was authority in all such matters, as to its
value; he replied that it was worthless
This discouraged many, but not all. Be-
fore Mr.. Iongworth died he changed his
opinion, and sent hither for stock of the
vines.
The vineyard I was speaking of contains
about four acres, set out6xS, and trained on
trellis; that is, posts feet long and feet
above ground are set ten feet apart and
three tiers of rail were stretched from post
to post, by turns around strong nails. Wire
is considered cheaper than Stats. The
vines are tied with twigs of golden willow
This is quite different from the Cincinnati
method, which, briefly, is to plant thicker
10 tie to single stakes, and to dwarf the
vine. l saw very few grapes at Hermann,
led or trained IN this way. In fact, / do