Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-12-06
Grapes.

Nj. IL. Bateman, the well known
horticultural writer, furnishes the
Ohio Farmer the following record
of his experiences With different va
rieties on sandy soil:
l have one vineyard of four acres,
consisting of Concord, Catawba,
Hartford Prolific and Delaware,
with few Ives and Isabellas, seven
years planted on yellowish sandy
soil, with similar subsoil; the loca-
ton on a slight ridge two miles
from the lake. Another vineyard
adjoining the first consists of two
acres, six years planted, one-half
Iona and the rest Catawba, Con-
cord, Hartford, Delaware, Salem,
Israclla, and dozen other sorts for
home use and experiment.
Catawba has never done quite
we'll with me, the fruit failing to ri
pen evenly or erfectly-though this
season and the past most of it was
well colored and saleable. I never
recommend planting this variety on
sandy soil. Isabella ripens well,
but the clusters are small and irreg-
ular and the fruit Of poor quality
of little use and no profit. The
same remarks will apply to the
Ives. Hartford Prolific thrives and
bears well, and is profitable, as an
early market variety, although only
Of third rate quality.
Concord has thus far been the
most productive and profitable, es.
pecially for market, as is common;
but l do not think it will continue
in my case, for l find that my oldest
and most thrifty vines less produc-
ductiye than formerly, and have no.
ticed in older vineyards vines of
this variety produing little fruit
compared with former crops. I am
also of the opinion that grapes of
finer quality will in a few years be
found more profitable even for the
markets.
Israella is a variety I cannot en-
dorso. 1t is hardy and productive,
free from mildew, and the fruit RI
pens early and well, in compact,
handsome clusters, but the quality
is too poor-defcient in flavor, will
sell no better than Isabella. Ell
wanger & Barry's No. 4 is no bet
ter with me than Israella, and in
deed closely resembles that variety
in appearance, earliness and quail
ty. 1t may prove better on stronger
soils. Adirondac is another of the
early black grapes, of which much
was expected but little roaliEed.-
The fruit is of fair quality, what
there is of it, but the vine is feeble
grower and poor bearer. l intend
to try grating Of this variety. Del
aware is not doing very we'll with
me, nor on my nelghbors' grounds
the foliage fails and then the fruit
does not ripen we'll. Like the Ca
tawba, it succeeds best on dry,
clayey soils.
Iona l place at the head of all my
assortment, both for quality and
profit. In my family of ten persons
it is preferred over all the rest, and
eaten by the children daily without
safety when they have lost relish
for all other kinds. This, too, is
found to be the case with sick per-
sons for whom grapes have been
recommended by physicians. And
to show that the Iona is beginning
TO be appreciated in the markets, l
will state that the past month sent
about ton of this fruit to Colum-
bus and Pittsburg, where it sold
freely at lOscents pound when Ca
tawbas would only bring 8 cents.
The vines Of this variety do not
thrive we'll on all soils, and no per-
son should plant freely of it until it
has been tested on his own grounds.
l had strong hopes that the Wild
err was going to give us a better
grape as a substitute for the Con-
cord, but the present season has de-
veloped tendency to mildew the
foliage of this and all others Of the
Rogers family in my grounds, which
fear is inherent in all the hybrids
possessing foreign blood. Salem is
included in the remarks just made
of the Wilder = though until the
present season the vines have borne
good fruit and grown well.
Croton has grown finely for three
years and borne few clusters of
fine fruit, but the leaves this season
show some mildew, the effect doubt
less of it's foreign parentage. 1t
may possibly succeed well in some
places, and if so, will prove very
profitable, for there is great need of
4 first-rate white grape.
Martha, on my soil, is of no value
at all. The vine, six years planted
and of fair growth, bears poorly,
and the fruit is so foxy and poor
favored that no one will eat it when
other sorts are to be had. l have
tasted it of far better quality on
clay soils. Aliens hybrid gave me
one or two crops of delicious white
grapes, but for the past two seasons
has widowed badly. We saved a
part of the crop this year by appli-
cations of sulphur. Who will give
us first-rate white grape? Walter
and Enmelan have not yet borne
fruit with me, and the vines of two
or three years. planting have not
grown as well as could wish. The
Creveling, after bearing one or two
fair crops, has failed badly from
of the foliage and fruit,
not the common mildew. Diana re-
fuses to ripen well, and is rejected
therefor.
Raising Wheat Selecting Seed.
A manufacturer of flour, and a