The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-06-13
AGRICULTURAL.

y
bearing canes of grape vine, as o rule,
there will start two young shoots. One
OF these will take the lead from the first
few days of warm weather. When this
difference i'll size can be seen il is then
time to go over each vine and rub off
the weaker shoot, leaving but one in
place.
Under the most intelligent culturists
this rule is always carried out, in young
as well as in bearing vines Sometimes
large number of young shoots will start
to grow on the base of the main arms of
large vines. These also should all be
rubbed off at the same time. The young
shoots left on grow rapidly, and are,
when IS inches to feet long, tender
and easily broken off by a.strong wind
or q heavy rain storm. TO guard against
any such mishap, the vine-dresser should
see that the young shoots are fastened
to the vine or other supports in time to
avoid losing part of the crop of fruit
by this kind of carelessness. A week or
ten days later, when the fruit is set,
with rank growing vines, the ends OF
the bearing shoots may be pinched off
four or five eyes beyond the last bunch
of fruit. This will encourage the growth
of the fruit and at the same time en-
able the owner to keep the young shoots
within bounds of the trellis. Pinching
off the ends of the shoots will force a
growth of laterals, and these in time
should be removed while small say two
or three inches in length. From the
start one of the main objects in pruning
is to have the shoots so fastened that
there is free circulation of air around
every part and at the same time have if
possible a healthy foliage. On this will
depend the growth and ripening of the
crop of fruit. Among the more serious
diseases that injure the leaves is mildew,
the appearance Of which is familiar to
those who have paid any attention to
the culture of the vine, either foreign or
native. The application of powdered
sulphur is the best remedy to check the
spread OF this disease and fatal effect
upon the crop of fruit. The mildew
generally shows itself early in june
and prompt measures should be taken
at once. Where there are only dozen
or two of vines the sulphur may be
sprinlzled on with a small dredge-box,
but in the vineyard a sulphur bellows
will be found much better. This fungus
growth not only attacks the leaves, but
also the stems and fruit in time, and is
one of the most destructive diseases the
grape-grower has to contend with.
Some varieties suffer more from this dis
ease than others. Among the kinds that
the mildcw affects worst on the writer
grounds are the Iona, Diana, CatGwba
and Delaware. The Concord, Hartford
Prolific, Clinton, and Norton's Virginia,
grown on the same ground, and under
the same treatment, are seldom injured
from this disease.
In planting, it is better to select
varieties that will make q strong, healthy
, leaf, and when mildew appears apply
/ the sulphur. Close summer pruning is
| often recommended as preventive
S against this disease, but in the expert
l ence of the writer, it has not prevented
l or checked mildew on young or old vines
f With native vigorous growing kinds
close summer pruning is not practiced
to anything like the extent that it was
ten years ago, and every years expert.
ence adds to the weight of testimony
! against this practice. Both close plant.
l ing and close summer pruning will have
!. to be abandoned with such varieties a,
| the Clinton, Concord, Hartford Prolific
: and Ives Seeding. These, with othel
l well-known native kinds, require moro
I room when the vines get to be eight tt
ten years old.
l In garden culture, grape-vines are
often injured and the fruit lost by over
e stimulating the vines. Vines will max,
= q rank growth of wood and leaf wheI
. planted on rich ground, but under sucl
4 treatment the fruit will shed, leaving
o the punches struggling and irregular
4 Ground in average heart will produc'
1 the most satisfactory results, both il
L wood, leaf, and fruit. The most expert
: enced growers fully understand thi
h point, and only apply a dressing of well
: rottcd manure once every three years
: Grape men all agree that yard manur
p for grape-vines should be thorough,
|. decomposed before application. BY fol
y lowing this plan the growth Of Woo
: and leaf is more capable of carrying
e through to maturity the crop of fruit.
S Young vines planted this spring nee
e constant attention the first year. Thi
? does not entail much labor. Only on
/ shoot should be allowed to grow tn
u first year all others should be rubbe
e off when the strongest is selected. Whe
foot long the shoot ought to be fasten
ed to stake or it may be broken of
10 which will be loss and disappoint
h ment at the same time-N. y. IriJun
y GRAPES AND THEIR EASY CULTURE
,, 1t is surprising that SO many familiC
= in the country are willing to live yea
! after year, without cultivating a singl
=, grapevine about their dwellings. The
II II are compelled to purchase that deliciou
- fruit for the table, or not taste it duriu
% the season. There is a common imprel
u sion that to cultivate grapes perfectly,
- vast amount of knowledge and tact
> ~equired. To many the simple trim
- .. Of vine is a mystery, more diff
= cu. - comprehend than the harde'
y pro..-u.l Jf Euclid This is an erront
a Gus view, and ought not to prevail. An
~ person of common intelligence can lear
IL in an hour how to trim and nouris
vines; and if instruction cannot be oil
tanned from some experienced cultivi
tor, there are books filled with cuts an
20 illustrations which make everythin
- plain. Three vines of as many differeI
4 varieties, planted in some sunny moo
- - or by the side of some building, so as
no obtain shelter, will, if properly care
n for, furnish many bushol of deliciol
ra grapes every year. Select Concord,
u Delaware, and an Adirondack; NAL
~ the ground mellow and rich by the III