The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1863-01-31
tFrom the Topeka Record.
State Agricultural Society.
CLASS MEETING.

that meeting of the Society be held each
week during the session of the Legislature
at which those present should in a familiar
way compare experience in the -,arious
branches of agriculture pursued in Kansas,
meeting was held in the Senate Cham Der,
on FRIDAY evening. January 10Th. 1868.
which was called TO order by the President
Judge Bailey, and Andrew Stark was cho-
sen Secretary, pro tenn.
The President stated briefly the object for
which the meeting was called, and suggest
ed that there were several subjects of inter
est TO Kansas farmers that could be discus,
sed with profit; that no speeches were
wanted; that the Society could not afford
Tor fifty dollars, to have any man make a
fine speech; but that any man having facts
bearing upon the subjects under discussion,
was at liberty and requested to give others
the benefit OF such knowledg e or experience.
He then called Tor Mayor Latin. of Leaven-
worth, who said:
-Four years ago, Mr.. Gould, of Leaven-
worth, planted some cuttings; the next
year L bought Of him one hundred thousand
vines for one hundred dollars. (They can
be purchased now for ffty.) These were
planted on three-quarters OF an acre Of land
alopiug to the southeast, two and one half
miles from the Missouri river and three or
lour hundred feet above the river. Holes
were dug, TWO feet square; trenchlng costs
no more, and Is preferable. estimate the
cost OF planting at $50, and the cost Of
tending at S25 more for last year-this ma
ing $500 as total expense to this time Last
year sold $500 worth of grapes, and this
/
ers' worth 5000 total product of three
fourths of an acre, $8OO-leaving profit
OF $500. Have hired all the labor done.
Next year, expect to raise four tons of
grapes.
In answer to the President, he said
would not let any man destroy my vines for
$1,000.
The labor is easily performed-much of it
by women and children. Our climate is in
every way favorable for the cultivation of
the grape. Ny vines are the Catawba and
Isabella, but l do not recommend the Isa.
BELLA as 1t makes too much wood. Grapes
should be planted, for vineyard, from five
feet apart to five by six each way.
In reply to Mr.. Clark, of Doniphan: l
trim very low-about three feet from the
ground, on stakes. never cut away the
old stoc K, but let it stand while it produces
good fruit. l never have seen grapes tend
ed just as mine are. They are trained out
TO TWO and three stakes; this year they were
land down from foot and half to two feet
from the main stock, for layers. From one
OF these have cut two and half pounds
of grapes. prevent the vines from spread
ing by pinching off the points; this is regu-
lated a fret hr ba I'll &c
terward whe. the bloom has dropped. Ny
men cut off all the surface roots before the
grapes are in bloom. If vines look bad, the
leaves turn yellow and die. It is probably
owing to surface roots. These form a knot
around the vine, and prevent the sap from
going up. When this is the case. dig down
some three or four inches, and cut them
off
A spade is best to cultivate with; horse
and pillow spoil more grapes than they do
good. 1t should be cultivated deeper than
can be done with hoe.
Vines should be pruned as soon as one
drop OF sap comes out on the end. IfI
done earlier, the vine freezes and cracks.
and dies TO the next bud; if later, it bleeds
too much
Mr.. Means-Will they do as we'll on bot
tom land
Mr. Lattin-I think they will do very
well for table use. but not for wine and il
will require more work TO keep back the
wood. Any ordinary slope will do very well
for vineyard; a poor soil makes better
grapes than rich one. l prefera southeast
exposure to any other Mine is common
sandy loan. not the best.
l, -. A. l. s l.
OF first OF April. Though planted from
the first to the tenth of May, some Of the
vines having leaves on as big as a quarter
oi dollar. You can plant the cuttings
where you want them to grow; put two in
A place, and if both grow take oul one.
Mr.. Johnson-Did the cold weather in
October injure your vines
Mr.. Lattiu-It did not Mr. Farmer.
Of Leavenwortb, tells me his are nearly all
killed
Mr.. Charles Byers. of Leaven worth, has a
young vineyard of six acres, and has made
l 200 gallons of wine this year, which he
sold for $3.50 per gallon. He has also sold
large quantity OF grapes from 'the same
l made forty gallons, last year. and will
recommend it to any one who has tasted
wine IN this or the old country. 1t takes
thirteen pounds of grapes to make gallon
of wine
Cuttings can be obtained at the time of
trimming, of me or Mr.. Byers, at So per
thousand.
Mr. Weisbach, of Marshall county, spoke
as follows:
Cuttings can be obtained at Bonneville.
aud at Hermann, Mo-, for 81 per thousand.
The estimated cost of planting vineyard at
these places. and at Cincinnati, IS one dol
lar per thousand. In the old country, the
is from nine 70 ten pounds of grapes