Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-11-10
potomac Fruit Growers Association.


Closeyile, Alexandria county, Va, and the
presence of a number of the fair sex gave ad-
ditional attractions. Fifty.six new members
were elected, among whom were John Slater,
J. Tacey, VIM. Berkey and Col. Spear, of Al
exandria, and Franklin Stearns, and George r.
Gilmer. of Richmond.
Mr.. Gillingham, President OF the Farmers
Club Of Woodlawn, was present, and gave an
interesting account of the club, and its methods
of procedure, as did also Col. Chamberlain, OF
the Farmers Club of Loudoun county. we
regret that we have not space for the report OF
their remarks, which present many points OF
importance The special topic tor discussion
was the culture and pruning Of the grape vine,
the principal portions of which we lay before
our readers.
Mr.. Myers, at the request of the Association,
explained his system OF pruning the vine, illus
trating his remarks by drawings. The vine is
tied to a stake, and all lateras pinched off to
concentrate the strength in one cane, which, at
the end Of the season is cut down TO about III
teen inches from the ground and all buds
rubbed off but the two upper ones, from which
two canes start the next spring At the close
of the second year, cut back one cane TO two
buds, leaving the other to mature and fruit the
next year. All superhuous offshoots must be
DlUcDGu Ill,
lowed to grow more than six or eight feet high.
The third year, one cane will fruit while the
other is maturing and at the close OF the season
the fruiting cane is cut back again for new
shoot, while the other isskept to fruit the next
year. By this renewal system, one vine Is kept
in fruit while the other natures, cutting back
to two buds alternately each year the one which
has fruited, and larger quantity and inner
nuatv of grapes Is secured.
Mr. Phillips was then called upon to explain
his system Of training which differed somewhat
from that of Mr.. Myers, and which was identi
cal with that recommended by A. S. Fuller
('oThe Grape Culturist, PIP. l29-l45): "Plant
the vines in rows six feet apart and EIGHT feet
apart in the rows, and let one ca1e grow the
first season keep it tied to the stake, and
pinch back the aterals TO concentrate the
growth into the one cane. This cane is to be
cut back the next season to within twelve or
fifteen inches Of the ground, and only the upper
two buds are allowed to grow, all others being
rubbed off, From these upper two buds two
canes are produced each one OF which should
have the same treatment az did the single one
of the previous season. The second season the
vine will usually produce three lunches Of
fruit on each cane and if it Is strong and Wig,
orous, these may be allowed to mature; but it
on their first appearance: The canes at this
age should be from eight to twelve feet long,
and at least halt an inch in diameter. If much
smaller than this, one Of them should be cut
away, and the other cut back to two buds, and
two canes should be grown as in the previous
season.
"Ihe trellis should nov be built il it has not
been made before. The two canes oil The vine
are now shortened four feet, bent down in OPP
posite directions, and laid against the lower
bar of the trellis to form arms. Select five or
six of the buds on the upper side Of the arms
thus laid down, to be grown into upright canes,
making mark on the tres bar opposite to
each. From the marks opposite the buds
stretch No lG galvanized wire q Mr. Phillips
uses lath) to the bar above All buds and
shoots not wanted for upright canes should be
broken off, and so soon as those remaining are
long enough to tie to the upright wires it should
be done. When the upright canes have grown
to about two feet they should be stopped by
pinching off their ends. Pinching will cause
the remaining leaves to expand and become
large, thick and firm, and much better fitted to
withstand the atmospheric changes than they
would otherwise be. Tho shoots, after being
stopped, will soon start, and after growing Z
few inches they should be checked again, as
we wish to keep them within the limits of the
trellis, and not allow them to grow much, il
any, above it. All the aterals on the canes
should be stopped as though they were on
young vines.
The upright canes are pruned back the first
year to two buds. The next year cane will
proceed from each Of these buds; and all other
shoots which may start from the small buds
near the arm should be rubbed off, The second
year they will each produce three or four bunch
es of fruit, and instead of twelve upright canes
we now have twenty-tour, and allowing three
punches Of fruit to each, it gives seventy-two
punches to each vine, and this is not an over
estimate for the product Of vine the fourth
year after planting. The canes are to be treat
ed the same, as regards stopping, plnching,
laterals, ETC. during each year of their growth.
From this point Mr.. Phillips pursues with
the upright canes the renewal system recon-
mended by Mr.. Fuller and practised by Mr..
Myers. With care, liberal manuring and cul-
tivation of the soil, he thought that at least a
thousand dollars per acre could be cleared an
nually after the vines came into bearing. The
expense is nearly all at the commencement and
the vines o. course never have TO be replaced
with new ones.
President Bramha thought that not sufficient
attention was paid in this country to the pre-
paration Of the soil before planting. 10 France
and Germany the ground is cultivated to a
great depth, not only by sub-soing, but also
by trenching, frequently to the depth Of five
feet A liberal quantity Of manure is then used
and continued annually, There the land is
high and the vines arc thickly planted. Here
where land is cheap it is preferable to plaat
wide enough to cultivate both ways the first
two wears, and if we'll sub soied, trenching is
not necessary, nor will it pay. But the soil
must be made and kept rich if you want to
secure good crops. If you dig pits or trench
ing between the rows and bury in them ashes,
bones, old leather, ofal, &c., in very short
time the little root-lets of the grape will pene
trate itin every direction.
Mr. Mason said that the sub soil about Ac
cotink was stiff, yellow clay which they held
of no value, and which would not bear stirring |
up much. He thought broken bone an excel |
lent fertilizer for the vine.
COL Close had used the broken bone with |
very gratifying results, and preferred it to the
ground bone, which was often adulterated to a
considerable degree
NJ Mvorc Aid MT haIiavn IN trannbin0 nor |