The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-10-27
FARM. GARDEN AND noUSEHolD
Grape Pruning.
From Moore's Rural New.Yorker

tieHt
From Moores Rural New.Yerker.
u. LAX writes, questioning "when and
how to trim grape vines. and how to lake
slips from old vines to make new ones ?"
Full information on this subject. we pub
lIshed and illustrated with figures, in April
and May, 1869; but supposing G. Lark and
many others now. but not then. our readers.
We VIII try to give answer in condensed
torn, TO meet his and others wants
When to Trim. The best time is lust at
the fall of the vine leaf in October Let
the main pruning be made at that time, if
| 1t be possible to command the time; but if
the work cannot then be done, do it if you
can, before severe freezing weather; if not
| then done, postpone it until there comes
regular thaw IN winter-sey week or ten
| days of soft, moist weather. when the frost
| Is nearly or quite out Of the ground land
then don't neglect your duty any longer.
| H0tr to Pf7nle This is the second ques-
ton, and one that is answered so variously
| by writers on grape growing, and is talked
OF so oppositeiy by Uignerons that an an
swer III any way will be said by some to be
assuming; but having studied the grape
pretty thoroughly, and having read every
treatise of which we have ever heard. and
| practiced, or observed the practice OF each
|
to Prune, if practiced, viii result in sue
cess to the proprietor Of the vine on which
| 1t il performed.
Each variety almost, will, after the first
two years, require a distinct system-so
that any general rule for grape pruning of
our vines would fall to the ground if at
tempted to be practiced. The grape grow
er mast first Eearn the habit and character
his variety, and then he can adapt its
| pruning and training to q mode or system
consonant with its class.
But, of How to Prune," let rs say, first
that summer pruning-that is, cutting
away of foliage after the blossom has open
ed is now counted, by the majority of
cignerOnS, as an error; and the reason for
the error is, that each leaf and end of a
shoot has q corresponding connection with
the spongioles or feeding ends of the roots,
and once the leaf or shoot connecting
Herewith is broken, the spongiole rootlet
or feeding mouth, is affected is closed
from IFS natural action. and, as q conse-
| quence, rot and decay ensUe, creating at
| the root of the vine, fUngoid disease
which, if the same system Of summer trim
ming were persisted in, would, in few
years, result IN apparent outward disease
of the vine, and in rot and mildew of tne
fruit.
Having said this much Of summer prun-
ing let ms now suppose you have vine
planted this past spring, and you have per-
| mltted it, as you should, TO grow inst as
many or Just as few shoots or vines as it
| pleased: but now you want to put it into
shape. so that next year it will increase in
strength Of root and prepare itself to give
you fruit the year following. Take then
your knife and cut away all the small
canes, selecting the largest and best in the
center, or as grown from the strongest
center bud.
This first season all vines may be accept
ably pruned IN this way; but when the
growth in spring comes, 1t behooves the
grower to know his vine and his soil. For
while q Concord, Hartford, or Norton. etc,
will IN good soil be the better for permit
ting the three buds 10 grow, the Delaware.
Rebecca, Notified Elsiuboro and some
others, will be better to l1sve oF,ly tvvo buds
permitted TO grow. As the buds start il
spring there will be more or less OF sucker
sprouts start from the root and the dor
mant bud at base Of the main bud will
/ often start; the vine must then be watched.
and as soon as a shoot appears, other than
| the two or three strong ones from the reg.
ular buds. they should be at once rubbed
ont, and theGceforward, during the sum.
mer rub or prune no more: let all grow:
for, although old time catiyators will tell
yoD to cut or pull away the laterals. we tell
you that the lateraIs serve TO add TO the
SIZE and vigor OF the lower part of the
cane, and the buds thereon, and every adj
dluonal rlpened leaf adds to the volume
and strength Of the root for the coming
years aid.
| Surprising your vine to have been Il Della
ware or Rehecca, or any of that class of
! short JoInted, comparatively slow growers
| bpt II il has been Concord, Hartford.
| Wilder, etc. then you must add a third
cane.
Aud now your season for pruning has
| again come, and b. It's pruning you hope
| for fruit the coming season Each OF these
canes has three binds, aud the two rnper
| bud Oh each caue are to produce fruit
while the cane on the lower bud is to have
whatever fruit it may set rubbed away,
and the canes trained for fruiting another
! year.
! On old vines say those of five or more
| years old, and with such 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 bossoming Of
! tho vine, This, with it's four buds to o
/ 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 punches
making twelve punches, full as much as
any youug vine should bear
| So much, ia q condensed form, of Glow
TO PfuDe." Now, in answer to our CORE
! spondents last question,
Ho'0 10 Take Sips from Oh ZINES for the
| Purpose Of Groloing Ne,g Oaes.-We will
| suppose our inquirer proposes to grow his
| cuttings ID the open grounds the rage
and profit OF growing grape roots in fore.
lng houses has had its day, and forced
many man in debt for years. Then We
have only to say to him, that my well ri
| pened wood cut with two eyes on il is all
| that IS requisite; and yet we confess pen
chant tor The old style of mallet cutting. Il
differs from the former only in the fact that
it is made with an inch or Jess OF the old
wood attached to the base of the cutting.
and IN that attachment, or base, or crown,
is supposed to be stored up q greater
amount OF vital life-givIng power than can
be contracted In any one distinct bud
that junction or connection being, in fact,
filed with buds, dormant so longs as TIE
main bud exists, but ready to do service as
soon as that is destroyed
KEEPING GRAPES Fresh. There are sew
eral practical modes: One is to pick the
grapes just before dead ripe, while they
are perfectly free from surface moisture,
and Immediately seal with wax the end of
the stem, or any place where a grape has
been removed. Now place in boxes with
cotton batting, q layer of fruit between