The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-06
Proceedings Of the KeOkuk
Horticultural Society.


through Mr.. George o. Hilton. Report laie
on the table until next meeting
D. Reddngton, Esq, read carefully pre-
pared essay on grape culture and wine
making.
The Society, after n lively discussion o
some Of the views taken by the essayist, imam
imously rendered him vote Of thanks, ant
requested him to furnish our daily paperl
with copies for publication.
As in all the Fruit Clubs East and West
the members were greatly divided in theil
opinions as to the merits of the leading grape,
noticed in the essay.
Mr.. Hubbell said that he totally disagreed
with Mr.. Reddingson in calling the Concord
"the Lion of the vineyard That grape wa,
inferior to several others for fruit and wine
1t was more appropriate to call it the Bull o
the vineyard, its paternity being traced to Mr.
Bull, of Massachusetts. He spoke highly o.
the Clinton.
DR.. Knowles recommended experiments in
hybridizing, using the Concord plant as 6
pistilate.
Thomas Fletcher thought the Catawba was
by no means a failure, and he considered il
the best variety for table and wine purposes
we could grow. His Catawba canes were moi
killed this winter.
Mr.. Maltby said that the Concord made toe
light wine to keep. He preferred the Ca
tawba and Delaware for the table. The Gin
ton made heavy wine; was as hardy as any
other. He admired the Delaware, but grape:
that ripened later produced more wine to the
acre than any of the early sorts He agreed
with the German fruit-grower at the Illinois
Convention, who said of the Delaware: "Gen
tlemen, always see the grapes, but where
the wine2"
]. P Hornish, Esq, stated that many o.
the laternls on his Catawba vines were alive
lie spoke highly Of the Clinton Rs wine
grape, it having the right proportion of sugar
and alcohol
Mr.. Hilton stated that there would be fail
crop of Catawbs grapes this season, notwith
standing some gentlemen had this variety
dead and buried.
Dr. Knowles. referring to the failure Of tbs
Catawba in other sections, said that we has
never had but one partial failure in this sec
ton. He suggested planting the vines foui
feet apart, and cutting back to the grount
every alternate one every year, and fruitine
each vine once in two years.
DR.. Rickey stated that at Nauvoo and For
Madison the Catawba, where not protected
was badly hurt.
Nr. Weyand called attention to Mr.. Schre
ders plan of ayering bearing vines ever,
year. so as to keep up vil eyard of youns
vines. He also brought down the house il
his remarks about the extreme lightness O
some wines by Keokuk scales.
After discussing the merits of bottle o
Delaware wine presented by Mr.. Reddington
the Society adjourned TO next Thursday even
ing, March Slh, at O. clock, to continue tn,
discussion and agree on list of the best va
rieties of fruits adapted to this climate anC
locality. E. II. WlcKERsHAN, See'y.
Grape Culture and Wine Making.
An Essay read before The keok1,k Hufic1l
ttrdl Society. March lst, 1866, by u. Red
dington
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN-In com
pliance with your request, take great pleas
ure in being able to present some importan
facts with which all persons living here shoult
be familiar who have an interest in grap,
growing.
In the remarks ] am about to make | shall
not attempt to prove assertions nor quot
many authorities. because the brief time al
lotted will not permit; shall state such fact
as have fallen under my observation and hay
been derived from the pen of the experienced
as they appear from the most reliably pub
lished authorities and correspondents; shal
not pretend to give original matter, excep
perhaps as conclusions.
| am indebted to the Agricultural Report
for much that | regard as useful; also. to cor
respondents who have kindly favored me witt
attention.
Ny object is not TO write an eulogy on tn
grape or wine, or TO give their history or mod
of production, but to show that the grape cul
ture can be made profitable in this vicinity
Great interest is taken in this subject in al
parts of the country. where grapes viii ripe
sufficiently to become sweet, and in many 10
callues large amount of capital has been in
vested. There is very large portion of ,h
country adapted to the grape culture: som
Tor table use. aud others for wine and thes
different localities require different varetie
OF vines. They can be grown as easily a
corn, wheat or potatoes, and with as httl
care. but correct cultivation will make tn
same difference with the vine as with th
I
five to one hundred and forty bushels pc
acre. SO with grapes: there can be raise
from five hundred to twenty thousand pound
per acre. Any one can raise them, if he ca
raise anything; almost any where, if there
one hundred and twenty DAYS of summe
heat, and in any kind of soil; but to rails
them successfully, profitably, is quite anothe
matter.
4 The great interest in this locality. in graz
culture, lies in its success for wine purposes
and this wine interest is the one shall col
slider at this time, with the aim to show tn,
capital invested in it will be largely remune
atiye.
We will first consider the conditions ne,
essary for this result:
I lst. A suitable soil;
2nd. A clear dry atmosphere;
Sd. Sufficient heat;
4th. Healthy and hardy vines, that produ'
grapes OF good ,ciae qualities.
No one will doubt but we have all 9th
elements, snch as skill. labor, materials. d
/. SUITABLE SOIL.
1t would be difficult, suppose, to find on
who would not believe that we have'a suitab
soil, because grapes Of 6ne quality a
grown all around us, here, and have been f
many years. We have almost all kinds
lands that are chosen anywhere for grape
except those impregnased with volcanic d
posts, as IN California, or decomposed grani
as in Mexico and Texas. By the sides of o
rivers we have a sandy. deem loan. ON q