Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-28
Agrunltural.
4 Nep Hampshire yinevdrd.

Nearb Mason Centre, short time
since We visited the grspcry oI George
Whittlhcr II we understand what II
successful man il, Mr. Whitaker shall
stand first on our list. Coming as he did
but lite more than dozen years ago,
not worth q cent, 10 rough, unproduc-
tive farm in Mason, n. H., be now pos.
se.se, = valuable lot of land made 50 by
his oHu skill and energy. He showed US
several acres OF land for which he would
not take $1,000 per acre.
Thi. farm contains 62 acres and when
he entered into possession ol ii, was
made up Of swamp, swalc. worn out
pasture land, some acres Of rough grass
and wood lot. 1t was the old home
stead C) according to the old idea oil
farming b. three generations OF the
family before him, his son Hermon Whit
takcr who now has an interest 10 the
farm makes the fifth generation.
Mr.. Whitaker has nearly six acres do
voted to grapes. One field OF 2 l2 acres.
in which we lound him at work, is fair
example OF his method oil culture and
success. Eight years ago the field was
lruma pasture. Fifteen loads oi barn
manure 10 m acre were spread on aud
p,uwcd u. This is all the dressing the
land has received except low ashes
which ale sown on each spring. The
plant. were set out in rows OF eight and
in hill, six feet apart. Ash stakes we've
set along the rows at proper intervals
and strung with two courses OF wire.
These stakes are sawed 2 2 inches
square aud cost $50 per thousand. board
measure. They stand about five feet out
of the ground and with the ends proper
" laIred, will last twenty years. Tho
coulses ot vino are about two feet apar /
The Witc cost nine cents per pound. A
cheaper Kind Mr.. Whitaker says. would
not do Is Nci. Ii took iour years Tor the
vines 10 get well rooted and strong. The
first product of grapes from this field
was nine tons, the second seven tons. but
sir W. believes two tons TO the acre a
sufficiently heavy crop. The grapes are
the larger and more luscious.
Mr. Whittaker's method Of pruning is
simple and sensible. As soon AS the
new shoots have reached the length OF
two fee, and have blossomed. The ends
are cut ufl and the clusters thinned out.
Tbs wear half the clusters had been tax
en- away. From one vine he took 81
clusters leaving 10. Twice more before
harvesting the field is gone over and the
end, of The vines cut away. BY this pro.
cess The fruit obtained is large and deli
cious. After the grapes are gathered the
vines are farther pruned by cutting off the
branch that truited that year. The field
is thoroughly plowed each spring and no
weeds allowed 10 sap the earth. The
cale Of an acre Of grapes is very much
less than that of an acre of corn. and
the outlay after the first expense for cut
ting and lrcIlises is small. The largest
crop ol garpes Mr.. Whitaker ever raised
was fifteen tons. His grapes are freight.
ed to Boston. The best quality sells for
fifteen cents per pound. The second and
third qualities two and five cents.
In harvesting the gatherers are not
permitted to touch the fruit. The stems
are taken between the thumb and fingers
and thus held, the clusters are carefully
deposited on racks which when full are
carIiedto the store where they can be
packed away tor five or six week before
ireighliug il necessary.
Although Mr.. Whitaker has given his
attention principally to grape culture he
has been active in other din cctions. II
so happened he had swamp of two
acres for which a neighbor generously
said he would not give him ninepence