The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1867-02-28
BURLINGTON.
GRAPE CULTURE.

| T6llSlOu.
| GRAPE CULTURE.
In addition to the large commercial ant
mercan tile interests of the city, large CAPT
tai is employed in the Native Wine business
and the cultivation of grapes for making wine
There is now about 100 acres within and ad
joining the city limits, devoted to grape cul
ture, and perhaps fifty acres more, that have
been planted within two or three years past
and that have not yet reached a bearing age
The vineyards are usually small-say an acre
or two, though some of them have five acres
which is considered large enough to be cult
tivated to advantage by Vine-dresser
with one or two assistants.
These vineyards are usually attended by
the owner and his family, making the outlay
very small, and profits large. 1t is mainly
the Germans aforesaid, that own these vine
yards, but since their success has become SO
noted-the popularity of the wines so great,
several Americans have gone into the bust
ness, with the view of carrying it on largely,
and on scientific principles; but it remains to
be proven whether they succeed as well as
their unostentatious German neighbors, some
of whom have made small fortunes off their
little vineyards. The nature of the soil and
formation of the country just here, seems
well adapted to grape-growing. The land is
somewhat broken, sloping generally to the
south and east, with range Of high bluffs in
rear, protecting these slopes from the north
winds in winter, and affording warm sunny
exposure in summer aud autumn. The soil
= H. H. L.,
clay sub-soil. and is prepared for planting by
de ep, sub-soil plowing, or else by trench
ing" with the spade, Incorporating liberal
quantity of manure in working the soil-say
leo to 800 wagon loads to an acre.
For heavy soils barnyard manure well rotted
is considered good as any. For a sandy OF
gravelly soil a compost of muck and leaves
with yhe manure well worked in, and adding
lime ashes and b one dust, is far better.
With these Germans, some ofwhom are from
the "Rhine districts" SO celebrated for their
fine table Wines it is customary to train to
stakes, planting the vines in rows from to
feet apart in the row, pruning in the Spring,
say very first of March, cutting away all of the
last years growth but two or three inches of
the lower buds, which furnish the fruit bear
ing canes the coming season.
The most profitable variety of Grape for
wine making here is the Catawba, which in
this latitude will mature before the frosts; but
there are other varieties gaining favor, being
less liable to mildew, and earlier to ripen, of
which are the Delaware, the Clinton, and the
Hartford Prolific, the latter is very productive
and hardy-a large black berry, fresh, juicy
and sweet, and ripens early in September; this
is a very fine table grape, and valuable for
market as well as for wine making.
The Delaware is sweet, amber colored
grape, being of medium size; skin thin; flesh
for table use. Ripens the last of August.
The Clinton is one of the most vigorous and
hardy vines known, and should be planted on
rather poor soil, as it inclines on rich soil to
make too rapid growth of wood. The fruit
possesses a spicy flavor which many persons
do not fancy for the table, but is highly re-
commended for wine, which has the qualities
of the finest clarets. Ripens middle of Sep
TENDER.
These varieties last mentioned are, on ac-
count of ripening early, and hardness of vine,
peculiarly adapted to the climate of Wiscon-
sin.
AS to modes of treating the vine to secure
the best results, no theories are entirely relia-
BILE, but good judgment and careful observa-
ton, combined with practical experience are
essential to success.
The Burlington wines are in very high re-
pute where they are knOwn-the best brands
bringing q higher price than the native wines
of Missouri or Ohio, and l am enabled to
vouch from actual test that they are very fine.
Your readers may be somewhat skeptical as
to the sums realized from a five acre vineyard,
but it is easily demonstrated. Thus Setting
the vines feet by 6, which is not too close,
and you have 900 vines to the acre. If prop
erly trained and in a thriving condition, they
will the 4th year produce 10 lbs of grapes to
the vine, and which will yield a gallon of
wine, so you have 900 gallons to the acre,
which if well made will bring when one year
old $1,75 per gallon two years old it will
bring SO, 00@2,25. Allowing for contingencies
say you get 800 gallons to the acre and real
ize s., so per gallon and you have $4,000 from
five acres of ground. Of course it requires
some outlay of capital, with industry and pa
thence, but venture to say that no other in
vestment or pursuit within the reach of men
of moderate means offers so certain and so
large returns.
I read your series of letters in the Telegraph
on ''the culture of small fruits,' with great
interest, believing that the subject is one of
great importance to our pleasant little city OF
OF Kenosha. The soil being excellent for that
purpose, and the facilities for shipping to near
and reliable markets being superior, that bu-
siness together with the grape. culture, ifprop-
erly appreciated and earnestly entered upon
might be made source of large income and
of permanent benefit to the town.
hope those 5 acre lots offered for sale by
our mutual friend Mr.. Bond, and all other
available lands in the vicinity ofKenosha may
very soon be taken up by parties that un-
derstand the immense profits to be made in
but as a legitimate business. 1t is no longer
an experimental thing, but has been reduced
to a practical success by some of our own citi
zens Why then need any one hesitate when
su ccess is assured
The product of the grape crop alone here il
'65 was q, 900 gallons and the wine now little
over one year old sells readily for 81, 25 pei
gallon am ounting to $168, 750. This is not on
~ large sum of money to be derived in one
year from single interest or pursuit for 6
community like this, but all or nearly all, or a
any rate large portion of it clear profit to til,
producer. True the vintage of 1865 was supe
rior both in quantity and quality, but that O
the last season, very unfavorable one, the
yield or product was $4,000 gallons.
| 1t is furthermore a well established fact thai
it is more profitable to sell the grapes in a good
market than to convert them into Wine New
Kenosha has the great advantage of a near by
market that cannot well be supplied witt
grapes and other small fruits, as the expert
ence of many successive years proves that tn
| demand more than keeps pace with the sup
ply, hence there need be no fears of overstock
grapes can be converted into wine with re
turn of large profits.
Any of your readers intending to embark i
this enterprise, and desiring information a
to preparation OF soil for the vineyard, tn
mode and the time for planting, cultivating
training, ETC., etc., will find valuable hints an
directions in an Essay on Grape culture - b
George Husman, of Herman, Missouri, and il
"a treatise on the cultivation of the natiy
grape, illustrated" by Andrew s. Fuller, Ne
. York, which are among the most popula
works on the subject.
Hoping to see vigorous movement in TIL
!, matter the coming Spring by our Kenosha pee
yle, 1 am with kind regards,
} Yours &C., o.