Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1868-09-11
8isIO anb GARDEN.
Grape Cnlture in Virginia.

= |
tions and suggestions upon grape culture
in Virginia, which should act fail to
engage the attention of those who have
or contemplate raising vineyard
The land to be devoted 10 this bust
ness, in the beginning, need not be
much. One acre viii enable one to
make pretty clever start, especially il
the beginner is poor or possessed Of but
little capital. Aud If, after paying for
the vines, the beginner cannot afford a
horse to pillow the laad, it may BE dug
up with the pick and spade. II does
not take a very long time to dig up
an acre of land One hand con-
stantly engaged on IL can very nearly
or quite prepare il in wesk's time. In |
another week the same hand can plant
the vines. But to make sure Of it, let
as give this one hand one monthto DO |
the work ia. The work Of preparing |
and planting the ground Is then done, |
and done at an expense for tools, labor,
&c, Of less than twenty-five dollars. If |
the planting is done in the fall, which |
is, perhaps, best-all things consid-
ered-the land should be muiched, that
is, covered over to the depth Of an inch
or two with old leaves, pinetags, or solne-
thing of the sort, which will require the
labor of one man and horse say week
to perform. Nothing more is now
needed till the vines begin to start ia
the spring, which will be early in May;
then o cultivator should be run through
the land every ten days or so, during
the summer, and the ground be kept
free from grass OF weeds. At this time,
that is at time of the first blowing, the
vines should be carefully overlooked,
and all the buds or shoots, except the
strongest one nearest the earth, rubbed
off, and small stake, four or five feet
in length, stuck up by each one, to
which the young shoot should be tied
as soon as il has attained sufficient
length to enable the operator to do SO.
by the time the third blowing Cor
digging up if the cultivator has no
means Of plowing) has been completed,
the vine will have probably grown to
g., the length of lS or 20 inches and made
ten joints If so, they may then be
= topped, if profit is to DO derived FROM
.he vines the first year This will cause
The suckers to grow, and at the same
time make the vine grow more stocky
and heavy, which is of Importance to
its future value.
Some time in July, not later than the
25th, the vines may be layered; that
is, taken down from the stakes, and
covered with earth; and if this is pros
perly done, each sucker on them will
make good vine for next years plant.
ing, or to sell to your neighbors, who
may also want a vineyard The one
thousand vines planted on this one acre
of land, may in this way be made to
yield at least FIVE thousand greenwood
layers, or vines from layers, worth in
any market at least five huDdred dellars !
Thus it will be seen that a vineyard
properly cared for aud cultivated, may
be made to pay the whole expense of
plants, planting and cultivation even
the first year, aud leave a small margin
of profit to the owner besides.
But the work must be carefully and
thoroughly Gone, or it will fail. Every
part Of the labor must be performed
promptly and well, and at the right
time. There must be no mncing, no
half work. /. will not answer in grape
culture. In fact, | do not believe it
answers well in the cultivation Of any
thing. M
Now, the fall of the first year has
been reached at an expense, all told, of
not over three hundred dollars, which
has been more than met by the pro,
ceeds, how shall we begin the next Cor
secondly years work.
After we have carefully taken up our
new made vines, and again set up the
old one, which ID now cut off near the
earth, or with one or two buds still at
tached, the ground is thoroughly cleared
and again mulched, and left quietly till
spring. The young vines are carefully
cut apart, and either Immediately sci
into vineyards, or healed az in the
ground somewhere, where they can b.
conveniently had when called for.
1t would probably be best 10 com
mence the springs work with the cree,
ton of rellis for the proper training
Of the vine this year. But this is no
absolutely necessary. We can use th,
same stakes that helped us along so wei
last year for this season, The grounC
should DO well cultivated as for the frs
year; that is the cultivator should bl
run through it at least once fortnight
and all the grass and weeds kept down
But do not intend now TO troubl,
the reader with my views of the bes
manner of training vines the second
third and subsequent years. / viii
leave that for some future article
Suffice 1t to. say, at present, that tbert
ought to be considerable profit derive,
from the vines tho second year, uu,
more than enough to pay expenses, larg
rs theT VIII necessarily be, if the vine
are trellised, and enough to satisfy eveI
Virginan that his future success i
certain, and his vineyard to become
paying institution.
% From the foregoing views, thrc
things would appear to be certain:
Fist. That any one who has an aer
of land suitable for q vineyard, Gan,
any land that will grow good wheat vii
grow good grapes,) enough money t
purchase one thousand vines, aud tool