Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-06-09
AGRICULTURAL
Planting a Vineyard.

Rlanung q N1ney&us
The following, On the preparation Of
the soil for, and planting a vineyard, is
from an Address by DR.. SHREDDER, of
BLOOMINGTON, ILL.,:
THE land for a new vineyard should,
when possible, be plowed in the fall or if
In the spring, just as soon as the ground
Is dry enough. To do this right, take a
strong pillow and pillow as deep as you pos
siblv can-inthe same furrOW follow with
a deep tiller pillow, putting 1t as deep as
the horses can draw, turning the subsoH,
or at least well pulverizing 1t, and SO go
over all the land. If you have enough
time It will be better to let the land lie a
few DAYS or weeks before laying off your
IoWs-eight feet apart is the preferred
distance. To lay off your rows and have
them straight, take poles eight or ten feet
long, and put them at 1.-THE end OF the rows
on each pole put q handkerchief, cap
or a loyal, and if possible, a radical news
paper-use the poles as q guide. Then
with a good team, pillow a furrow straight
between the poles from one side of the
vineyard to the other-changing your
guide poles for each row. After making
The first furrow across the field, returning
make another furroW two ~ feet from
the frst-so 90 up and down each row
wiehSthe pillow until you have thrown out
a ditch, say two feet wide, along where
each row Of vines are to be planted
Now take Patrick with the spade, and
have him spade the ground you have so
ploWed, as deeply as he can-that Is, have
him spade the bottom of the furroW thor
oughly. IF you lave rotten manures
ashes or compost, go along each row with
your wagon or cart, and throw In two or
four inches Of the manure into each ditch,
covering the bottom well with 1t. Now
put your ploW on again, and pIow so that
every ditch will be filed up and a ridge
formed along each row. By this blowing
and spading you loosen the soil two or
three feet deep. This frequent plowlng
thoroughly pulverizes the soil, and leaves
it in a fit condition to be penetrated by
the tender r~eotlets of the young viues.-
It viii be seen that In preparing the
ground in this way you will have an pen
drain on either side of each row of vines.
It would be better if all these side drains
could empty into an open drain. of
larger size, at the end or ends of these
small ones Now you are ready for plant
ing.
work yourself-with a common garden
hoe, make a slanting, shallow hole in
your ridge, where you wish to plant the
first vine. Take your vine from its water
bath, in q bucket, where it should be
kept until the moment before planting, or
from its grouted bed, spread out the roots
and cover your vine. To every vine put
down a small stake 3 or 4 feet long-to
this yoursVine is to be tied during the
first years groWth-trim your vine so
that you have but one eye above the
ground. With your six or eight feetpole,
measure off for your mex vine, and plant
as before, and SO on until you get through
your vineyard. IF you have anything
suitable, it would pay you to mulch your
vine row. 1t will save you many a vine
during the hot, dry days of our summers,
aud at the anne time will enrich your
ground.
You can now plow you ground between
your rows, and between each row of vines
plant two rows of strawberry plants
keep these plants in rows by frequently
using the cultivator between the grape
rows and the strawberry plants. By this
you keepyour Strawberries within bounds,
and at the same time you keep the ground
around your vines in good condition
Let no weeds grow in your vineyard-nor
amongst your strawberry plants. By this
plan of raising strawberries, last year, [
sold over So, 900 worth from four acres of
my old vineyard. These plants will pay
you for all the treatment of the land, as
well as for the vines. 1t is very essential
to have good healthy vines for planting
any vineyard. Inc most failures nave
been made in consequence of planting in
ferior plants. Many good varieties of
grapes nave been condemned and called
"humbugs," by reason of nothing but in
ferior steam plants having been plant
ed. Many of these new kinds have been
sold at enormous prices, and have given
nothing but dissatisfaction to all buyers.
l have had to pay dearly for my expert
enee in this line.