Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1871-09-23

Essay ON On Grape Growing. y
Read before the Agricultural College OF Mo.
BY ;. Z. Rogers, OF isathrop, Mo.
Grape growing In Missouri is rapid
ly increasing, and Is destined to be
come one Of the most important In.
terests OF thestate. In grape-growlnp
the first thing to be considered, Is the
propagation ofthe vine. This may be
done In several ways; some Of the
most important are: First, nom the
seed. This mode Il not desirable un-
less the grower wishes to obtain bet
ter variety. In this case take fully
ripened seed from the best varieties,
keep them during winter either III the
pulp or In cool, moist sand. Prepare
the ground In the fall by spading deep
and throwing In into beds. The soil
should I've light and rich. In the
spring, rs soon as the ground Is In or
der, thoroughly pulverize the surface
of the seed-hed and SOW the seed in
rows, two feet apart, averaging an
inch in q row, cover them from one to
two inches deep, varying with the
oahevl inoiss"'e ~ eie soh' when
tney come up, partially protect
them rom the sun for the first few
days supply them with small
sticks to run upon to keep them out
OF the dust. During summer keep the
ground well stirred and clear of weeds.
Ifany appear weakly or diseased, pull
them up. for the intention Is to raise
strong and healthy plants. In the
TAI, II Ills MOI. desirable to set them In
the vineyard, tney should De taken
up ana heeied ~ or covered In the bed
70 Protect snem rom irost. These
plants should De SET IN the vineyard
anu cultivated until they have fruit
Ell. Then the best varieties may be
eelected and pr0pagated rom cut
tings, which Is the second and most
important method. 1881 3ft3
10 proPagating rom cuttings select
ia the Iali medium sized ana well rip
eneu canes; cut tnem Two or four
eyes Two eyes the best tie them IN
punuies rom nsty 70 q hundred each,
box them IN moist sand or sawdust and
Keep them In q cool moist place: In
the spring, as soon az the ground will
permit, put them out ~ suitable soil
when mas been thoroughly prepared
Tor the purpose. Set them vertical
ana cover 80 that the upper bud VIII
De lever WIN tne surface OF the
ground. They should be put In rows
tnree feet apart ana averaging two
inches IN row. Cultivate well and
IN the fail treat them IN the same
manner as rom the seed. This Is the
best and most common way OF pro-
pagation; but some varieties do not
grow well this way. such varieties
are generally. propagated by layering.
10 layer = vine, first shorten In Its
last years growth TO about one-half;
second, .prepsre the ground by
thoroughly puiverining; then In the
spring before the puds nave opened
make small trench one inch deep
IN which fasten the vine hrmiy to
the bottom, at the same time cover
with fine pulveriEed dirt. The cane
generally takes root at every joint |;
they should be supplied with small
sticks to run upon and not allowed to
grow too high. In the fall take them
up, cut them apart and take care OF
them IN the same manner as from
cuttings. There are other modes Of
propagation which are OF great inns
pOrtance; but from the lack OF space
l cannot give q description OF them
here.
After raising the plant the next
thing In order Is to select a proper To-
cation for thevineyard. The best To-
cations In Missouri are, as q general
thing, along our large water courses.
The ground should lie to the sun and
II possible be protected from the cold
north and west winds. The soil
should be dry calcariOus loan,
draining itself readily. II the best
natural locations cannot be obtained
the deficiency should be made up, as
much as possible, artificially. Ex-
perience Is proving that those vast
areas Of rocky lands ofsouth Missouri,
' Willy 10 so LIE ~ v,aI, LA retsI =,
the growth OF the grape. After the
location has been selected comes the
preparation Of the soil. This Is Of
great impOrtance-n necessary the
ground should be cleared Of all trees,
rocks and stumps. Stir the ground
by blowing and subsoiling to the
depth Of eighteen to twenty inches
though the subsoil should not be
thrown to the surface.
After the ground Is prepared, what
varieties should be planted? In Q
large state like ours where the soil and
climate differ SO much this Is q diffi
cult question. While one variety
would do well another would make
an entire failure. The safest plan is
to select those varieties which have
given the most general satisfaction.
The following are few which have