The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-09-01

astray; but how will they feel when this
poor young man shall have completed what
pow seems his inevitable destiny, and Is
hurled, a fostering and friendless wreck,
into the executive chair, How will they
feel when the tragedy has been played, and
we. in terms befitting It's gloomy horror,
shall chronicle the days of Bruce"
.ff ftf - ia
&C. A VETERAN vINEYARDIST.
FIVE ACRES OF GRAPES CULTIVATED BY ONE
MAN sEvENTY-FIyE YEARS OLD.
Nine years ago Mr. J. b. Tillinghast, who
will he IS years of age on the 18th of Sep
TENDER next, began vineyard on the old
Vallandigham farm, about one mile beyond
Brightwood. He determined to raise his
own stock and do the work with his own
hands, purpose which he has carried out
TO the letter, having never paid a cent for
vine nor for labor IN dressing the vineyard.
He had read carefully all the writer's on
grape culture, and when Horace Greeley
offered 500 for the best grape, and the
prize was awarded to the Concord, Mr.. Til
linghast decided to embark his fortunes on
that variety. He got bis first lot Of 1,5OO
cuttings from branches cast by some one
who was pruning into the street, and hav-
ing propagated them, set out 200 vines, all
he had room for, and gave the
| rest to his neighbors. He then ex-
pected to be able 10 attend not more
| than two acres which be began with, but he
has to-day over five acres in bearing, with
4, 900 stakes, and two vines or branches TO each
| stake. All this the active OLD man keeps in
perfect order, and does a good deal of other
work besides. How is this possible? Ordi-
narily it would take five men to carry on
such vineyard. Mr.. Tillinghast
claims the invention of an improve
ment in the mode OF training and
pruning, which enables him toaccom-
pl.sh the results of at least FIVE mems
| work. Grape culturists know that the best
mode of vineyard culture has called out a
vast amount of study, experiment, and dis
cussion, without being vet settled question.
Mr.. Tillinghast's method is what he calls the
"spiral arm, horizontal branch and spur"
system. He trains to stakes five feet nigh,
/ eight feet apart, and gives each stake two
arms, or vines, springing from one root.
the two arms kept apart are wound
in five feet, aud then fastened at
the tops by driving small nail through the
| vine into the stake. If more than one nail
| is needed, more are used. This quick, easy
and effectual mode OF fastening is the partic
ular feature of the improvement, The two
arms thus supported perpendieularly throw
| out the fruit bearing laterals horizontally,
which, by Mr.. It's system of summer prun-
ing or pinching back, are kept short and
| close to the main vine. A spur including the
| first bud is left at the winter pruning from
which the fruit branch is allowed TO spring.
|
Mr.. Us pruning, which is worthy the care
full inspection of all horticulturists. AS to
the mailing it was the unanimous conclusion
OF Prof Z. Il. Cox. Mr.. Mayhem and the wri-
| ter, who examined the work, that no injury
whatever results to vine or fruit. In one
case 10 punches OF grapes were counted
above the nail which had been driven two or
three years ago.
| THE SHOW OF GRAPES
| In thaca uiuovarda il wOndarfu1 civil pu
the best testimony to both the skill and
thoroughness of the culture. A hail storm
on the night of Aug. cut the crop terribly,
in ten minutes damaging il hundreds OF
| dollars. Before that more wonderful fruit
| age was probably never seen in field culture.
But deducting the fruit destroyed by the
storm, there can not be less than twenty
five tons of fruit now ripening for the mar
ket. Vines but three years planted are
/ hung with clusters sufficient to bewilder the
\ eyes OF Adam and Eve before they were
| turned out of the Garden of Eden. 1t is
useless to attempt description of this
sight where grapes seem 10 have monopo-
| lized all thought and all space.
There are many advantages in the
plan of culture which this enthusiastic
| and aged gardener has carried out that pro-
mote both economy of labor and success
with the crop. BY the stake system and
close pruning, all the ground culture is
readily done with the pillow and the vineyard
is open TO the sun and TO the harvester. The
notable point in the case is to see what one
man already past the age when most men,
If they live so long, attempt TO be OF any use,
can do and has done with his own hand and
brain in the most delightful of all occupa-
tons. He is as full of enthusiasm in his
own work and science as ever philosopher
was with new discoveries, artist with
what people please to call divine Inspiration.
On this work and the triumphs already Won
he will continue till called to better
paradise 1t may be added that
one field is set with the Catswba, with which
Mr.. T. hopes to succeed when he will cone
| fine himself to the two kinds named. There
are now on the place few specimens of ten
or a dozen varieties. Besides grapes, Mr..
| Tillinghast, with his son, William, who is
well known in this city, does something
with his tomatoes. and more with his South
Sea Island watermelons, which the COM
pany, who tasted specimens, decided to be
the finest which they ever saw. There is
room for more of this sort Of labor ana skill
| around Indianapolis. In the sudden growth
OF the city, the fruit and vegetable growing
has not kept pace with the demand.