The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-01-01
EARLY FROSTS.
How to Prevent their Evil EGec

How TO Prevent their EVIL Enects.
Many plans have been recommended
for the purpose of warding off the evil
effects of early frosts; but while smoke
shrinking with water, &C., are all we'll |
enough in their way, they do not quito
meet the necessities of the case.
The night following the l7th OF Octo-
her was very cold here, and much OF the
fruit suffered severely; large quantities
of grapes were completely ruined
abs1t ten tons having been destroyed IN
one vineyard and smaller quantities IN
others.
In looking over the injured vineyards,
il is interesting to observe the dlt1er-
ences in the effects of the frost on differ
ont vines, and even on different parts OF
the same vine. or even of the same
bnncb, We of course refer to grapes
similarly exposed. Some of our vines
which have run up into large trees,
bore fIuit which escaped injury, though
il was not quite ripe; but this was pro-
badly owing to the protecting influence
of the trees.
Very full examination OF seVeral VINE
wards, and very large number OF vines,
leads us to conclude that where grapes
are fully ripe they may be exposed to
very severe frost without injury. A
Catawba vine, trained against shed,
had ripened many of its punches very
thoroughly, and these were entirely I'M
affected; while all tho punches that re-
NAMED unripe, although growing on
the same vine and quite as well shelter
ed as the others, were completely de-
stroxed. The Same was true OF the lsa-
bella. The Clinton grapes, being fully
ripe were not injured, while other ma
tive varieties, snch as the Troy, which
are quite as hardy, but do not ripen SO
early, were entirely cut of.
Longworth tells us that among his
other attempts to naturalize the Euro
pean grape, he imported vines from re-
gieus where the fruit was allowed TO
hang on the vines with impunIty until
the ground was covered with snow; ana
few years ago largo quantity OF
grape cuttings were imported from the
mountain regions of Hungary, In the
hope that as in their native land the
fruit of these varieties was suffered TO
remain on the vines until snow came,
they would be able to withstand our
early frosts The fact upon winch the
importers relied was no test of the har-
diness of the vines or their fruit. II the
fruit was perfectly ripe it would sustain
a very severe storm without injury, but
if it failed to ripen it would be ruined,
and. aside from the liability to disease,
the chief point upon which the value of
such vines would depend, is the period
of ripening Of their fruit.
A few wears ago the grape crop
through this region was very seriously |
injured by an early and severe frost.
This season we have had frost which |
has taught the careless growers a Sc
we're lesson; for while late varieties and
i'll cared for vineyards have suffered Sc
verely, the early varieties have entirely |
escaped, and even the Catawbas have
remained untouched where they receiv-
cd such attention as brought them for
ward to early maturity.
That different modes of culture and
pruning produce great differences In the
time OF ripening of graEes cannot be
denied. A notable instance of this
came under our observation this season.
In this immediate neighborhood are
three places which are nearly alike as re-
CARDS soil, exposure, &c, or at least
they have sufficient diversity on each |
to afford fair grounds for comparison.
No. changed managers this season,
and the occupant did not arrive until
the season was altogether too far ad-
vanced to allow of much being done.
The vines were left unpruned and the
ground untitled, and in many cases the
trellises broke down and allowed the
vines to lie on the ground in tangled
masses. The result was as might have
been expected. Isabella grapes re-
NAMED green long after the LIST of Octo-
Der. Even the Concords failed to ripen,
and as for Catawbas, they did not seem
to make any attempt to get ripe. This
is OF course an extreme case; but the
bushels OF grapes whic" now hang FROST
bitten and Iotten on the vines, attest
the fact that ne let-alone system is but
poor one.
No 2 was cultivated by an old-fash-
Toned gardener, VIII, has never given
any particular attention to vine culture.
His vines were pruncd il. spring, par
TALLY cultivated during tte summer,
but never topped or otherwise cared
for. Many of the punches of ghpes III
pened well; others failed entirely, While
the bulk of the fruit was certainly OF ~
inferior character, and unmarketable,,
for table purposes. What was sold was
Opposed Of in bulk, at very low price
per pound.
The third place is in the hands of an
old grape grower, and was well cared
for in every respect. The grapes ripen
ed fully; the fruit, having been thinned,
was of good size and fine flavor, and |
commanded high price in market.
This is no faucy sketch. 1t would be
improper to give names aud places, but