The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-11-16
GRAPE GROWING.

' Mr. Robert Buchanan, an experienced
and successful grape-grower, of Cincinnati,
Ohio, gives the following on this subject:
Vineyards are usually planted on hills, or
rolling upwards; such positions are chosen
on account of the natural drainage, which is
Is considered essential. Porous soils are pre-
ferred to stiff clay, or such as gre retentive
: of, water No trees should I've permitted to
grow within one hundred feet of the vine
II yard, nor should any crop be cultivated in
/ it, as Il vine is selfish plant and demands
all the ground for Its own use. The ground
:. is prepared for planting by trenching with
the spade two feet deep, or by breaking up
, with 1, subsoil and common plough 10 or 20
inches the latter is much the cheapest and
always adopted where the situation permits.
In planting the vines, the distance apart in
the rows appears 10 vary in different locali-
ties. Around Cincinnati and in the Ohio
: valley, three by six is the usual distance on
. the shores of lake Erie, 6 by s, and s by s.
and in California by 10 is recommended
as the proper distance The object in this
country, where labor is dear, is to cultivate
with the plough where it can be used, and
to avoid the spade which is expensive
Vineyard planting is system of dwarfing
the vine, but with our longjointed and ram
pant growing native vines ii may be an er-
ror to plant too close, or to prune too severe
ly. Our European vine dressers, accustom-
ed 10 short: jointed vines, naturally fall
into that error here, but they are now cor
recting it.
The method of training, also, varies with
localities. In the Ohio valley and the Sou
thern States the single stake to each vine.
and the bow system is adoped On the
lake shore and in California the trellis
is used, the vines being trained on it hori-
zontally.
The estimated average annual yield of
good vineyards in the West is about that of
France-100 gallons to the acre. In the
South they claim 500, and in California 500 :;
these latter l consider too high A bushel
of grapes-ffty pounds-wiil make 81 gal
Ions of good wine, and half gallon of infe-
Nor. In mere sketch like this article, it is
only intend to impart general information
on the subject of which it treats But
may remark, in brief, that a free exposure
to the wind, with the punches of grapes
sheltered from the hot sun by the leaves of
the vine, tying neatly to the stake or trellis,
a judicious shortening in of superhuous
branches, and the keeping the ground Gull
t1vated and free from weeds is considered
essential. The grape, like other fruits, has
Its enemies The most destructive of these
Is mildew or rot. Was it not for this dis
stdSe GHe CdCaWbd would De immensely pro-
fitable; but of late years. in the Ohio valley.
it has destroyed from one-ffth to four
ffths of the crop in many vineyards, and
discouraged many persons from planting
the fine grape A sudden change of wealth,
" er from hot to cold when the vine is in ra-
pid growth, and the seed in the berries
about hardening, is sure to produce rot. A
tree underdrainage-eit natural or arti
ficial-and a full exposure to the wind, will
in part, prevent it. No system of pruning
or cultivation has yet proved a sufficient
remedy in vineyards. Vines trained AGAINST
the side of The house, and under cover of the
caves, seldom if ever, rot The disease pro.
badly results from atmospheric causes, as
the rust in wheat.
Insects have not as yet been found verv
injurious, but the careful vine-dresser will
watch closely. ana permit none to get colo
nized in his vineyard. The frost in some
localities kills the young shoots of the vine
in April, or early in May, but the twin or Ia
tent bud will put out. and yield about half
crop. To prevent serious I'M ury by hail. let
the punches of grapes be we'll sheltered i bv
!. the leaves of vine, which will also nrove q
protection from the hot sun.