The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-03-06
Grape Raising in Virginia.

IL is matter Of surprise and regret
that more attention has not been paid to
the culture of the Grape in Virginia. In
all other countries where it would flour,
isb if has been the subject Of careful at
tention and wherever successfully cult
waited it has proven not only the great
apostle of temperance, but the source
of wealth and prosperity to the people.
That it has not been more cult
waited here is we believe owing
to two causes first, that the
attention of the people has not been
properly called to its value and impor
tance; aud secondly, and mainly be.
cause of the general ignorance which
exists of the proper method of planting,
cultiyating and pruning the vine. That
such is the case we are forced to believe
from the frequency with which we see
both in city and country gardens masses
of matted tangled vines producing moth
ing or almost nothing, and constant COM
plants of their owners that they know
nothing of their management and have
no means of obtaining instruction.
To remedy this want we propose to
give a few plain instructions stripped OF
all techniCalities for spring planting
and pruning which will enable those,
who have no vines, to set out some this
spring, and those who have old and un-
productive vines to renovate and make
them fruitful, following them up each
month with such information as will en-
able every farmer and every city resi-
dent, who has few spare feet of ground
to give himself and his family the benefit
of beautiful shade of the vine and at
least sufficient supply of grapes for is
family use during two OF the hottest
months of the year.
We call attention to the following
facts:
|. A vine of a suitable variety set out
before the first of the ensuing April
properly planted, tended and trained
will with safety bear next year five
pounds of good grapes, and increase its
quantity five pounds every year until ii
reaches an annual product OF twenty.
five pounds.
,. Every city resident who has on his
lot any yard or alley room upon which
the sun shines two hours a day from the
middle of April to the middle of Septem'
ber can have healthy vigorous vine for
every two square yards of such space
whether the same be paved or unpaved,
and with few vines so planted can the
second year shroud his porches and back
buildings with their beautiful foliage
and fruit.
3. Four such vines will give him the
third and fourth years as many grapes
as a moderate family requires.
4. Two hundred pounds of well ripen,
ed grapes will produce from fifteen to
twenty-five gallons of wine infinitely
healthier and better than any foreign
wine which can be purchased at price
within the means of most of our people
with the great advantage of knowing
that it is really unadulterated grape
vine and not the poisonous compound Of
the northern manufacturer sold for wine
but really not containing a drop OF
crane Juice. This amount will be fur
nished by twenty vines the third year
| and ten the fifth year.
). These results can be obtained al
verv small expense and after the ntsl
planting with but little labor ana tna1 o'
the lightest kind.
PLANTING N YARDS OR GARDENS.
Dig out the space in which you pro