The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-07-22
Enriching Our vineyards.

It is the height of folly to say positively
that we shall or shall not manure our VINE
Yards, for there are many circumstances
which control the matter, and render 1T i'm
possible to say with any degree of certainty
what shall be done the utmost we can DO
is to state facts, leaving the reader to Judge
what part or parts of such method or
methods would be applicable in this
particular case. Some say do not
manure the vineyard, for the result
will always be a profnse production OF
wood and foliage, to the detriment OF the
crop, besides engendering disease OF differ
ent kinds in the vine. To certain extent
with considerable modification, | admit
the above assertion as true, but only
where the ground is naturally very rich, as
it is in some parts of the country, such as
the rich prairie lands for instance; but the
grape soil of our country, taken as
whole-the eastern part of our continent,
where perhaps more attention is paid to
the culture of the grape-can little OF it
be classed under the head of being too rich
to need some little fertilizing; at least
this is the opinion we have formed
by several years. experience with grapes
and in grape culture.
We believe in thorough and constant
cultivation and slight applications of fer
tilizing materials yearly, as conducive of
GOOD results, and believe this to
be the expression of most other
grape culturists, OF course / should
not advocate manuring heavily young
vines before they have commenced
to bear, but after they have borne their
| first crop commence the fertilizing and
continue it. Although many writers cry
down the use of stable manure in vine
wards, we have had no cause to discontinue
its moderate use among the vines, provided
it be well rotted, and always had good re-
suits to accrue from judicious application
of the same. Bones in different forms
constitute one of the best things for the
vines that we have as are also mold from
the woods, decayed leaves and vegetable
fiber, the latter acting quicker than bones,
and being cheaper and more readily OBJ
tanned.
Some writer's assert that the kind of ma.
nure used will impart the taste to the grape
when ripe, rendering it rather unpalatable,
Now nothing can be more absurd than this,
both in theory and in practice, as we have
practically demonstrated, for it is equally
true to assert that wheat or the different
| vegetables Will dlSO u tooeS Ao'Si6A
to their natural one, and approximating
to the supposed taste of tn.
fertilizer used. To discover the trutl
or fallacy of the statement, we, some three
or four years ago, gave about half an acr'
of one of our vineyards o heavy dose 0
privy manure or night soil, raising melons
between the rows, and splendid ones too
and we have yet to find any bad result
therefrom. The first year after the appli
cation we carefully tried the flavor Of tn
grapes, both when freshly picked and whel
! left for few days for the excess of mois
ture to dry off or evaporate, and ais
called in the assistance Of other crap
growers for their Judgment in the matter
and we all failed to return any derogator.
verdict, the only verdict being that the
were splendid specimens, possessing IN
riyaed flavor. So much for the fast
theory. In subsequent years we hav
carefully tested the grapes with the sam
results. Ohio Farmer. e