The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1871-06-01
G0rregnendenee.
For the CsTizrsl
The Grape in Giles County.
NO


so with a purpose. I intend to in
clude in that zee Bfr. JOSEPH DUs-
Lar, who is my partner in grape
and fruit growing and has the vine
yard and orchards under his imme-
diate supervision and control. And
it is right and proper for me to say
here that whatever interest or value
these articles may possess they will
owe it chiefly to Mr.. DUNLAP,
whose long experience and close
observation as a nurseryman, plot
and landscape gardener have made
it easy for him to master the eul-
ture and the habits Of the grape
We promised in our last article to
take the grape from the planting Of
the first vine in our vineyard three
years ago and bring it down step
by step 20 the present time and
through the present year. and thus
give the reader every incident in its
culture, every item of expense. and
the exact result. But before going
into this pomo-biography in chro-
biological order, the reader will
probably take more interest in
these details by first taking short
glance at our vines as they now
stand, and the nature Of the soil
and features Of the ground upon
which they grow. First. then, let
rs look at the vines. We walked
over our vineyards this morning,
May 29th. In the one of five acres
planted three years ago last March
We found the vines heavily loaded
with fruit. The Ives Seeding and
the Concord, for vigor of growth
and size of fruit, take the lead as
they now stand. The grapes upon
these vines are now much larger
than buckshot. The canes of this
years growth which are lett for
fruit-bearing next year are now
from s to II feet long. The next
vineyard, of almost eight acres,
planted two years ago last March,
is in a flourishing condition and
promises an abundance of wood for
a heavy yield of fruit next year
Only one more to look at now, the
one Of about seventeen acres. It
was planted during the fall, winter
and spring Of so and 10, and is
now pushing forward as vigorously
as the others have done, with prob
ably some advantages in its favor.
Each Of these vineyards is now re-
ceiving the attention and cultiva-
ton suited to its age and condition.
all Of which viii be hereafter de-
tailed in this series of articles.
The subject, however, which we
wish to consider at this time is one
Of the utmost Importance, and that
is the soil upon which our vine
yards are planted and whether or
not it is the best or as good as any
other for grape growing? The so
luton of this question cannot prob
ably be arrived at satisfactorily ex-
cept by series of experiments
As yet we have no antecedents to
guide us, as the grape has not been
introduced in this locality to any
considerable extent so as to try the
different soils and situations pre-
sented to US. We will give as near
as we can the soil and situation of
our vineyards. and we would ear
nestly urge upon every farmer in
the county who feels like he would
like to tighten his mode of farming
and render it more profitable to
plant at least a few dozen grape
vines Of different varieties upon his
place and thus aid in the early so
luton of this question. Mines of
wealth richer than the gold ones Of
California lie hid just beneath the
solution of this question, and the
lucky farmer who hits upon the
right soil with the right grape win
find wealth and prosperity, ease and
comfort spring up around him to
bless him and his children. The
reader viii observe that our vine
yards contain, as before enumerat-
ed, about thirty acres. It is situa-
ted upon the highest ridge land in
this locality and would not be re-
garded as very rich or productive
for corn or cotton. The table on
the top of the ridge, or ridges, for
there are several which seem to run
together at this point, afford a con-
siderable body Of land, sufficiently
level for convenient cultivation.
but is cut up at the edges with deep
sharp-out hollows, which run of in
different directions from this high
table without any regularity
These hollows head up against the
table, SO to speak, and grow wider
and deeper as they go further away.
This table and the heads and sides
of the hollows are abundantly sup
piled with rocky material in the
shape of gravel and flinty rocks of
a larger size, just such as generally
cover the chestnut ridges in this