The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-02-08
Hints Grape Growers.

MI DAIRY, vi hoCuesIeT, gives IL Ine
Rural Ne,r Yorker the following timely
advice to the growers of table grapes,
in answer to the inquiry whether the
business of producing grapes for the
markets is not overdone
Last fall the markets were more
largely supplied with grapes than ever
before, many of them badly grown, bad,
ly packed, aud put in the market by in
experienced statesmen. The result was
decline of price to some six or seven
cents per pound, and perhaps less.
Large quantities of grapes were wholly
! destroyed on the vines by the frost of
| October Is. This is all discouraging;
/ and so we hear it said, "the business of
producing grapes for market is over
done" The idea is preposperous; it has
hardly commenced yet. The truth is,
however, the production of poor grapes
is overdOne. | have no hesitation in
saving that if all the grapes grown last
season had been well ripened, and prop
er!y packed and marketed, they would
have commanded good paying prices.
| One of the most extensive of the New
lOIh uttltlS iliO bhaV
half the grapes sent to market are un-
saleable. Some are not ripe; some bad
| ly packed; some sent to iuex experienced
dealers, who keep them too long on
hand, and then sell them for tritle.
He says one-half the grapes marketed,
if of good quality and properly pack
ed, would realize more money than the
whole do now.
We must turn over 4 new leaf in grape
culture. Grapes may be made great
business. The magnificent display at
Cauaudaigua last fall demonstrated
what can be done. We must first select
varieties, possessing the popular market
qualities, usually of large size and hand
some appearance, that are sure to ripen
in average seasons in the locality where
they are to be grown. A grape of me
dium quality, if SNOWY and ripe, will
sell better in large quantities than a
grape of small size, or poor appearance,
no matter how excellent. 1t is true
that, in the beginning of the season,
when fruit is yet scarce, partially ripe
grapes will sell, and frequently at good
price but this does not last long, and is
q poor dependence.
One of the most prevalent errors in
crane culture-one that has been more
powerful than bad seasons and all other
causes together, in producing inferior
grapes-is the OrerlOadinS Of the rineS.
We are all too greedy; we want to make
large profits; to gather too many pounds
and tons from the acre; and SO vines not
able to bring to perfect maturity more
than fire pounds of grapes, will be load
ed with ttceRty. This is quite general;
not confined to beginners, or novices,
but practiced by old hands. An over
loaded vine can neither mature its fruit
nor ripen it's wood for the next season s
crop. have known most promising
young vineyard totally ruined by one
seasons over. cropping. Some varieties
are more sensitive to this maltreatmen t
than others. The finer the quality of
the grape, rs n general rule, the more
sensitive it is. 1t is not uncommon to
see grapes large aud fiue to look at, but
tasteless as water, owing to the vines
being overloaded. This also accounts
for the failure of varieties in the hards
of certain growers-bOth their fruit AND
vines ruined by over-cropping. But, it
will be asked, and is asked, "How can
we determine the quality of fruit vine
of given age can bear y This is a
difficult question to answer, and, in fact,
cannot 5e answered with any degree of
accuracy.
The controlling circumstances are so
numerous that no rule can be laid down
The variety, the vigor of the plants,
the season, &c, must all be taken into
account. Let US take, for example, the
Delaware. A vine of this variety, of
any given age, (say three years from
planting In a congenial soil, and un-
der good management, might yield ten
pounds of well matured grapes, while
snder less favorable circumstances the
yield would not be half that quantity.
The same may be said of all other vari-
cites, the vigor of the plants, condi-
tion of foliage, soil, season, manage
ment, etc, controlling the production.
Nothing, save actual experience, will
enable the cultivator to Judge correctly
as to the quantity of fruit his vines are
able to mature. The earnest and care
Iul cultlvatOr will soon discover, as he
watches from day to day the develop
nlent OF his crop, whether his vines be
overloaded or not, and hold himself in
!eaIiheSs to apply the remedy, which
the thlnning of the punches.
VIII close the observations BY re-
peating, that those who aim at growing
| gooa gTapes-grapes fit for the table
and might say for wine, must select
varieties that can be relied on to ripen
perfectly IN their locality before the
average period of frosts, and thev mnst
also avoid overlooking their vines.
} The day has gone by when poorly
grown, half-ripe grapes will sell for
good prices. They may find a marx et