The Richmond palladium., 1865-03-16

the Association. ~ sa"
The Corresponding Secretary presented soms
monthly reports from the Patent Ooe, for January
He (B. Stratan.) then rod The following paper on the
Culture Of the Grape:
Grape Csltare.a ul
PLANTING AND TRAINING.
omitted 10 state IN my former paper, IN speaking
Of the preparation Of the soil that where the site had
but slight descent the ground should b raised at Least
six inches whore the vines to be planted, which
can best be done (tie ground having been previously
well plowed and puveri1ed as mentioned in paper al
uded to,) with horse plow; commence by throw
ing two burrows together where you want the rows OF
vines, coafinaing to pow each side till you plow
1 half the distance between the then commence
the next the same way, and on, when done you
will have an open furrow between each grape row
which will be great assistant in carrying of surplus
water, especially of wet seasons. Then with little
! hand work with garden rake, you readily form
oval border, gradually descending into the open
! urrow on each side In the center of these borders
| plant the vines; and as 10 distance, i would have
those borders feet wide consequently the rows of
vines would be feet apart-and if intended to be
trained to stakes, six feet in the If on trells,
twelve to sixteen eet-and here let remark that 1t
is my Judgment that the partial attending the
viney yardists around Cincinnati, is in great measure
owing to their system OF close planting and severe
| mode Of pruning. As to proper depth to plant, /
would say six eight inches for tier rooted plants
which my view is decidedly preferable to those with
swo tiers Of roots and here is my reason; my first
planting Of the vine at Forest Home, twelve or
fourteen years since, grew my plants from pretty
long jointed cuttings, and they well rooted at
two eyes had good sized holes dug twenty inches
deep the ground having been plowed about ten nchss
consequently the holes inches below into the
sub Sill which is rather of stiff clay planted the
vines with and filed up with mixture of leaf
mould and top soil from the holes. The vines grew
we'll. The third year, however,J had occasion to
two rows, and on lifting The vines found the
upper tier of roots which had been covered only about
four inches, very try long aud vigorous, while the
lower tier which about sixteen inches deep
very little il any larger than when planted and
almost dead cnt them off just below the upper tier
shortened the long roots, and replanted them in
oval raised border, considerably further apart than
formerly, (Which was:l feet) and they to this
day the best producing vines | have. Twelve feet
does very well till the vines get to be strong then
IT is too close. Not that believe in having long naked
canes but the canes should in degree compare
length with strength and vgor Of the vne and the
system OF pruning be such, TO produce fine
clusters within feet of the root at the eni oil
the bearing cane Fuller in speaking Of his horizon
tai system, says -four feet is abb ut long it
is safe to lay down a cane at one tme and have all
the buds start evenly" This I believe to he
rect principle. 1 would not propose to leave more
than four feet of bearing wood at any one season
but this may be extended advantage the vine be-
comes older and stronger. would ask what would
Fuller any else do with such vines many of
Of my old are that will grow three six
from twenty to thirty feet long and large larger
than mans thumb in season; find that it takes
entirely too much summer pruning to keep t.em from
overspreading each other with my vines twelve feet
apart and TO adopt system of pruning that wonld
keep such vigorous vines within four six feet
arms, would be throw such of vigor into
the fruit as cause it burst the skin bringing
disease Of blight rot, and loss crop. This Hori
zontal sy ystem locks very fine paper, and may
do well for garden culture intend try few vines
myself-but doubt its practicabity for general vine
yard culture. have met with the greatest success
when pruning the short spur system, and pretty
ong canes but when undertake to lay down any
specific mode be followed in pruning am reminded
hat it is Of such Importance that the work should
nv mcui.e with the habits and growth of the vine,
hat nothing short of sklull eye and practced hand
an perform it successfully. No general rules would
ut every locality or variety of vine hence, the
necessity of exercising discriminating Judgment in
the work Fuller says, II have often OBJ
served that the of a attributed
his soil and situation, but TO the skill OF the
,utvator, TO the varieties grown, and this, mat.
Ter whether his soil light heavy, the situation
low elevated We all know there is a marked
difference in varieties, being less exempt
from mildew blight and and experience has taught
me that much be done by skillful cultivation and
training l am of the opinion, however, that most
important results may be attained by practically test
ing the many varieties offered for sale, which
presume has not been done to any great extent in
our vicinity, although have quite number of them
now growing, yet have fruted but few, consequent
y ca not speak advisedly of them. The Delaware,
and Clinton, have shown less disease than
any I have yet fruited. Again, will introduce
few more ideas from Fuler's Book, viz: "Thereis
certainly much depends upon the adaptation of varie
ties to different localities well the mode of cul
adopted but these points seem be better under
stood than pruning ami training" But it appears he
attaches the greatest Importance to what he terms the
proper system of pruning aud training. He says,
No matter how thoroughly the foundation has been
laid. how congenal all the surroundings, unless
we practice system of pruning and training that
harmonzes with the known laws that govern the
grow III of the vne all the that has been may
be bestowed upon il will not bring bountful crops,
insure against partial ii not total failure" For
my part am of the opinion that we are much de-
fciept the varieties best adapted to partsular
locality IS in any other point.
The Premium list on Fruits then taken up and
discussed, and after discussion including mo-
ton give premium of S5 at the spring exhibition,
on green apples kept over the winter, aud the same
premium for grapes kept over, the whole subject
was referred the following Committee, VIZ Beni.
S,ratsan, Irwin Reed and r. T. Reed
r. 7. Reed appointed to read paper at our
FIRST meeting in April. He r. I. r. stated that he
intended to read paper on small birds.
J. Valentine invited to read another of his in
;eresting meteorological accounts. Mr.. Phenix, of
Bloomington, Illinois, present and made few re-
marks.-Then adjourned to meet Saturday, March
IS, at O'Clock precisely.
'.8.-who that has . particle of patriotism IN his
heart forget the sacrifices of tie Patriots of rs
in securing themselves and their descendant the
blessings Of liberty and free government. Their
memory should be ever kept in sacred ren,embranoe