Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-10-20
AarifnhurQl.
FARM. GARDEN AND { NOUS d ! OLD =
Grape Pruning.
From MoOre's Rural New Yorker.

We VIII Atl 10 give answer IN a condensed
form, TO meet his and others wants.
When TO Trim. The best time is Just at
the fall of the vine leaf IN October. Let
the main pruning be made at that time, if
il be possible 10 command the time; but il
? the work cannot then be done, do it if you
can, before severe freezing weather; if not
then done, postpone il until there comes a
regular thaw in winter say a week or ten
days of soft. moist weather. when the frost
is nearly or quite out of the ground
then don't neglect your duty any longer.
LIoo 10 Prame.-This il the second ques-
ton, and one that is answered so variously
by writer's on grape growing. and is talked
of so oppositely by UigReTOns that an an
swer in any way will be said by some to be
Ossuming; but having studied the grape
lpretty thoroughly, and having read every
treatise of which we have ever heard, and
practiced, or observed the practice. of each
, writer, we feel that what we say of How
to Prune, if practiced, will result in sue
cess to the proprietor Of the vine on which
it is performed.
Each variety almost, will, after the first
two years, require distinct system-so
that any general rue for grape pruning of
oUr vines would fall to the ground If at
tempted to be practiced. The grape grow
or must first learn the habit AID character
of his variety, and then he can adapt its
pruning and training to 10 ode or system
consoDant with its class.
But, of How TO Prune," lei us say, first.
that summer pruning that is. cutting
away Of foliage after the blossom has OPEN
eds now counted, by the majority of
rigRerOns. as an error; and the reason for
the error is. that each leaf and end of q
shoot has corresponding connection with
II r. Al.
and once the leaf or shoot connecting
herewith is broken, the srOngiole rootlet,
or feeding mouth, is affected is closed
from its natural action. and. as conse-
quence. rot and decay ensue. creating at
the root of the vine, fJngoid disease
which, if the same system of summer trim
ming were persisted in, would, in few
years, result In apparent outward disease
~ the vine, and in rot and nlildew of the
fruit.
Having said this much OF summer prur-
ing let rs now suppose yon have vine
planted this past spring, and you have per-
United il, as yen should, to grow Just as
many or just az few shoots or vines as it
pleased; but now you want to put il into
shape, SO that next year il will increase in
strength of root and prepare itself to give
you fruit the year following. Take then
your knife aud cut away all the sna..
canes, selecting the largest and Lest N the
center, or as grown frou the strongest
center bud
This first season ali vines may be accept
ably pruned IN this way: tut when the
growth in spring comes, 1t beho0yes the
grower to know his vine and bis soil. For
while Concord Hartford. or Norton. etc,
will in good soil be the letter for permit
ting the three buds to grow, the Delaware,
| Rebecca, Noltled, ElsiubOro and some
others, viii be better 10 have only two buds
permitted TO grow. As the buds start in
spring there viii be more or less of sucker
sprouts start from the root, aud the dor
mant bud at base of the main bud will
often start; the vine must then be watched
and rs soon as n shoot appears, other than
the two or three strong ones from the reg
Mar buds, they should be ut once rubbed
out, and thenceforward, during the sum-
mer, Tub or prune 10 mOreT let all grow;
for, although old time cultiyators will tell
you to cut or pull away the laterals. we tell
You that the latsras serve TO add to the
size and vigor of the lower part of the
cane, and the buds thereon, and every ad-
ditional ripenei leaf adds to the volume
and stvnhgth of the root for the coming
years aid.
Suppcsing your vine TO have been Dsla-
ware or Rebecca, or any of that class Of
short jointed, comparatively slow growers;
but it it has been Concord, Hartford,
Wilder, etc, then you must add third
cane.
Aud now your season for pruning has
again come, and by its pruning you hope
for fruit the coming season. Each OF these
canes has three buds. and the two upper
buds on each cane are to produce fruit,
while the cane Gu the lower bad is to have
whatever iruit it may set rubbed away,
and the canes trained for fru;iing, another
year. .stl
On old vines say those Of five or more
years old, and with snch varieties as Con-
cord. etc.-these canes should be much
longer, and have. when pruned in autumn,
from eight to ten buds each, and then ia
spring, each alternate bud should be
rubbed ont, just before the blossoming of
the vine. This, with its four buds to
cane. it is supposed should have the lower
and the third buds rubbed out before the
setting of fruit while the upper and sec
ond buds will give each three bunches.
making twelve punches, fall as much as
any young vine should bear.
So much, in condensed form, of "How
TO PruDe." Now, in answer 10 our corre-
spondsnt's last question,
Ioto to Tsslce Slips from OH Vines for The
Purpose of Gro,cing Neto Ones.-We will
suppose our inquirer proposes to grow his
cuttings in the open GrogEd-as the rage
aud profit of growing grape roots in fore
ing houses has had its day, and forced
many y man in debt for years. Then We
have only IT, say TO him, that any well RI
pened wood cut with two eyes on it is all
that is requisite; aud vet we confess pen
chant for the old style of mallet cutting IL
differs from the former only in the fact that
it is made with an inch or less OF the old
wood attached to the base nf the cutting,
and in that attachment, or base, or crown,
lis supposed to be stored up greater
amount of vital life-giving power than can
be contracted in any one distinct bud
that function or connection being. In fact,
filed with buds, dormant SO long as tie
main bud exists. but ready to do service as
soon as that is destroyed
KEEPING GRAPES FRESH. There are sew
eral practical nc cdes: One is to pick the
grapes just before dead ripe, while they
are perfectly free from surface moisture,
aud Immediately seal with wax the end of
the stem, or any place where grape has
, been removed. Now place in boxes with
cotton batting, layer of fruit between
layers of batting, SO that one cluster shall
in cool dry place. Those who have put
down fruit IL this way say that they came
out fresh in the spring. Il must be re-
membered not to let Che fruit come in con-
tact with the wood OF the box
. Another method, and one which is very
effectuaI In keeping grapes fresh during
winter is, to pick as before directed. keep
them in cool. dry place three or four
days, then pack in paper boxes which will
: hold ten or twelve pounds each. placing a
sheet Of paper between each layer keep in
: y cool dry room-not IN a cellar. Not
I more than three layers of grapes should bs
allowed in box. oef
SHEEP TrcKs.-A writer tc the American
lInstitnte Farmers Giab gives the follow
ling method to lexpel sheep. ticks feed
sulphur. 1t not only keeps them off sheep,
but drives them. / feed is-with salt mixed
in equal parts, az the raUe Of three pounds