Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-06-26
he fall are taken mn and tho mana ~.

Gus growing varieties, such as Concord ana
Norton.
For more delegate growers, like the Ca
| tawba and Delaware, it is better to permit
two canes to grow, training them along the
lower rail or wire, and making these canes
the base from which to grow future fruiting
wood.
During the second summer, the soil. if
not heavily mulched, should be frequently
stirred with the cultivator and the weeds
kept down.
The third season care will bO required to
have the vines properly summer pruned.-
AS soon as the bloom binds are sufficiently
developed to be distinguished, the vines
should be carefully gone over and all the
shoots pinched Off just beyond the last
bunch, except the shoot or shoots left for
bearing canes the next season. and these
should always come from the spurs left ct
the base.
The pinching of the bearing shoots
checks the sap from pushing the growth of
the vine and causes it to develop the fruit,
The practice some adopt of thinning out the
leaves to admit. as they say, light and air,
is injurious. Ii there is too much wood,
cnt it off, and that which is left will be ben
Gifted, as also will be the fruit, but don't
take away the lungs of what is left if you
wish to be healthy and vigorous for no
given quantity of wood produces more
leaves than it requires to feed it.
To enter into a full discussion of all the
methods Of pruning would be neither ad
missable nor expedient on an occasion like
this. The better plan is to try to arrive at
correct principles, and then the application
may be left to the good sense of the vine
grower, who alone can Judge of the pecu-
liar circumstances and condition of each
individual case.
What. then, are these principles, the
practical working of which has already been
hastily sketched?
According to Loudon, the objects to be
obtained by pruning 'Eare to shorten the
wood to such an extent that no more leaves
shall be produced than can be fully exposed
to the light; to stop all shoots produced in
the summer that are not likely to be re-
CURED in the winter. pruning at two or
three joints or at the first large healthy
leaf from the stem where they originate ;
and to stop al shoots bearing punches at
one, or, at most, two joints beyond the
bunch"
This is the sum and substance of grape
pruning and the reasons for it are plain.
Too much foliage prevents the light and
air from reaching the fruit therefore, pre-
vents the production of leaves by shorten
ing the branches, but do not impair the
vitality of the vine by stri tipping the leaves
from the branches.
All wood not needed for fruiting either
the present Or ensuing season. is q useless
drain upon the energies of the plant; there
fore, remove such as soon as it begins to
grow, and thus concentrate the sap in what
is useful, either the fruit or the canes for
the next years fruiting.
When fruit branches are permitted to
grow, they of course divide the sap with
the fruit therefore, pinch them off just
beyond the punches, and all the sap viii
be taken up by these. thus increasing and
fastening their development.
Now, let these principles be borne in
mind, and there will be little difficulty in
applying them to individual cases.
It would be both interesting and profit
able to consider some of the diseases and
insects to which the grape is liable, but
we tear the bounds properly assigned to
discussion like this have already been
transcribed, and with a few suggestions
concerning varieties we close.
For wine-grapes, Norton and Concord
should be mainly planted. They thrive
everywhere. In some sections the Cataw
ba still succeeds and in such it should be
planted.
Or JaDl0 use, I10 DSIdWdIC anu CdtSW Ud
are the standard varieties, but it is well to
plant few of all the newer kinds.
In recommending the Norton and Con-
cord as the leading wine-grspes for this
State, no disparagement is intended of
other, and some of them exceedingly use
full varieties. But both of these are Wig
orous growers, abundant bearers, anu are
entirely free from disease.
The Norton is indigenous to Virginia,
and here attains its highest perfection. Its
wine stands at the head of the list of red
wines on this continent, and takes the front
rank in Europe.
What we need now are good wines that
can be sold at low prices in future years,
we may find it profitable to produce light
and fancy brands, but Our farmers are too
poor to produce, and our people too poor
to purchase such at present.
Tho profits arising from this branch of
industry are large few, if any crops give
so rich a return but patient labor and
perseverance are absolutely necessary to
watched and carefully attended ; and I'M
less you are willing to undertake this,
'twere better not to plant it.
But to those who are willing to study, to
labor, and cheerfnlly to wait and watch,
there is promise, not only of a rich pecu-
mary reward, but higher and nobler en-
ioyment, which can only be found in the
study of and association with nature in he1
often mysterious, but ever fresh and gen
erous workings.
The Trucking Business in Virginia.
TIE rapid strides the trucking interest
has made from Norfolk into the interior
along the banks Of tho James is not the
least encouraging feature of the last few
years. The Ti'yininn, in an interesting
article on the subject, says that the i'm
preston that truck can only be produced
early in the Immediate vicinity of Norfolk
is entirely incorrect, and that large ship
ments are now being made from Burwell's
Bay, Chip Oaks and Hog Island.
Three years ago the farm at Rock wharf,
known as Boykin's, was purchased by a
gentleman from New Jersey, who has made
it one of the model truck farms in our
State This farm is some four or five hun.
dred acres in extent, and at this time there
is not spot on it's surface which is desti-
tute of vegetation. It's owner has sent, and
is still sending his products to market di-
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