Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-02-02
Westminster Farmers Club.
GRAPE CULTURE.

SSseeeAeesSCe eeeSSS
GRAPE CULTURE.
Mr.. o. A. Peck, a successful grower of
the grape, said, propagate the grape by
layers. Place dirt upon the young vine
about two feet from the parent stem in the
spring it will soon root, sever it from the
parent stock, and transplant the following
fall or spring. Raise only such hardy
kinds as are able to endure our winters
without covering lay them upon the
ground allowing the snow to cover. Keep
the wood always fresh and vigorous. Do
not allow too many clusters to a vine.-
Cut back the first growth Of the young
vine to insure strong root.
Prof. Merrill Of Bellows Falls, said, it
is Of the first Importance to have the right
kind Of Grape vines, such as are adapted
to the climate, and whose fruit is valuable,
not worthless. Learn the names of your
vines, and from the names learn the fruit,
again from the fruit and foliage, learn the
names. Let these things be intimately
associated in your mind. Make familiar
the wood, the leaves, the size Of the fruit,
the color, the size, closeness and shape of
the clusters of each kind. Avoid all foxy
grapes, such as give out strong perfume.
The Ionia, new grape, takes the lead
for Westminster. and is No. l. The Del
aware, tried grape, is next. 1t will
stand So below Zero and live. The
Concord, next, enduring 25o to % e
Hartford Prolific enduring 200 below
Zero. Then comes the Rogers Hybrids,
Aliens Hybrid, the Diana somewhat ten
der, but good grape. and the Rebecca
with its greenish white clusters. These
are kinds enough. The Hartford Prolific
is foxy. Do not attempt TO raise the Ca
tawba or Isabella, you will get unripe
fruit only.
Let your rows Of wires be eight feet
apart, let the vines be four feet apart in
the rows. Plant layers, train the vine the
first year in vertical line fastened 10 a
stake. 1t will thus get better growth
In the fall cut back near the root, to get
strong robust wood near the ground, as well
as to strengthen the root. The second year
the vine is permitted to take the oblique
line, being fastened firmly - il progresses
to the stake Of the ad;oiaing rins. Mr..
Merrill prunes mostly upon the one arm
ed system. His pruning consists in the pinch
ing off all laterals and head runners at a
proper point, just the right point. Thus the
| vigor of the plant is not wasted in the USE
less production of unnecessary wood and
leaves, but saved for the perfection of such
wood, leaves and clusters as should be per-
mitted to remain. This last point is the
great secret and essential to success. At
each joint, upon the second year, is push
ed forth, lateral, this he allows to extend
till five leaves are found upon it, then it
is pinched off as well as all secondary lat
erals. The leaves permitted to remain
became quite large, pulpy and vigorous,
well and amply able to perform the breath
ing functions Of the plant. Upon the Sec
ond fall, these laterals are cut back to two
buds. Upon the third year, single clus-
ter is allowed at each node, and the later
ais treated as before. Upon the fourth
year six clusters are allowed at each node,
being careful to pinch off and restrain any
rndue excess. Five leaves are left be-
yond the setting of the third cluster per-
mitted to each branchlet, which perform
the Office Of gathering the Carbonic Acid,
decomposing it and working the chemical
changes upon the sap in close proximity
to, and for the benefit of each cluster
In the fall the laterals are cut back as be-
fore TO two buds, and each succeeding
year treated as before. Each vine will
last one thousand years. Mr.. Merrill
spoke Of the culture Of the grape from ex-
perience, but omitted to state whether the
last item was or was not the result of his
own experiment fully extended. Mr..
Merrill thought the grape vine might live
and perhaps mature fruit, exposed to the
snow and cold during the winter, vet it is
much better to cover it not with leaves or
light stuff Of any kind, but NTH earth
Do not expose to the cold winds of early
spring, but uncover when the warm wealth
er is sure, and let the buds put forth their
first leaves, while the vine lies 10 a hori.
zontai position. This checks the tendency
to mass OF vine and leaves, with no fruit.
The rule is, little vine and much fruit.
Prepare the ground and mark the rows
as in raising corn, thus besides the sym.
metry displayed in the arrangement, the
sunshine will be let in just where it is
most needed. Avoid the lofty trellis, il
shades too much-use the simple stake
and tie strongly. Keep a clean surface
ID l. 4.