Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-11
GRAPE CULTURE IN MIDDLE TEN.
NESSEE.

To the Union and American:
In 1866 l planted my first grape
vines; choosing my varieties by the ad-
vice of an experienced vineyardist of
Sandusky, Ohio-Catawba and Isabella.
These varieties, after two good crops,
proved entire failures. l have repeated
the experiment with these grapes, with
the same u%nvarying result, and believe
they should be entirely discarded-at
least on the limestone soils of Middle
Tennessee. Since that time l have ex-
perimented with all the newer varie-
ties, and, In general, those most ex
traYagantly Landed, are the ones whose
failure has been most signal and COM
plete. Concord, Norton's Virginia,
Delaware, and later, Ives Seeding,
have won themselves places in the cata-
logue of standard valuable varieties;
while, except IN particular situations,
the rest have been consigned to the
well-merited limbo Of rejected Tarie-
ties.
Ny advice would be, to plant those
four kinds only, if for profit alone; for
experimental purposes might con-
suit Fule-'s two hundred or more va
r%ieties, with the feeble chance that he
might succeed where a thousand have
failed. Of these four, perhaps the
Concord will have to be abandoned.
Once rot-proof, it now appears to suf-
fer more and more each year from rot,
the cause of which, according to Prof.
Riley, of Missouri, Is the Grape Phyl-
lOxera, an insect described with great
minuteness by that ''entomologist in
late numbers Of the Popular Science
Monthly. We should give up this
noble grape, with sorrow; for when we
consider It's great proliicacy lis that
English?) its rapid and exuberant
growth and the imposing size of clus-
ter and berry, the fear intrudes itself,
that 1--WE never shall look upon its like
again"
OF all American grapes, the Della
ware, for quality and freedom from
rot, III my experience, heads the list.
Its drawbacks are slow growth, which
may be remedied by rich soil and
high culture; and dropping ofthe leaves,
which sometimes, though rarely, pre-
ventsthe thorough ripeningo of the fruit.
NOrton's Virginia, sO-called from its
originator, DIR. Norton, of Richmond.
Va, being a hybrid of Bland, a native.
and Miller's Burgundy, a foreign
grape, for wine is unrivaled. 1t is al
SO unexceptional in grOwthand freedom
from disease; but Is too small for a
market grape. Last Of the four, and
newestin origin, is Ives Seeding, a
grape which will disappoint no one
who desires a sure and prolific bearer
and cares less for quality. In this lat
ter respect the distance between this
variety and the Delaware is immense;
while with ordinary culture and on
common soils the former would yield
double the profit of the latter. 1t is
an old error, and not yet entirely ex-
plOded, that grape vines will flourish
only on hills or elevated hillsides.
The Concord thrives in almost all
soils and situations, from the black
prairies of Illinois to the clay and
limestone soils of Middle Tennessee and
appears to succeed as well on theE level
plain as on the hillside. The Delaware
should have a warm exposure, and the
soil must be dry and rich. The Con-
cord VIII thrive where the Delaware
would starve to death.
In habit of growth, the Ives resem-
blcs the Catawba of former times, but
is not fastidiOus about soil or situation.
It begins to bear one year later than
most varieties, producing its first crop
the fourth year. while Concord responds
with a liberal crop in the third; but
after 1t has attained its majority, lind
1t the most unfailing Of all.
In respect to distances apart, at
which vines should be planted, the IA
rlety Will be the first thing to be COZ
sIdered, slow-growing kinds, as Della
wares, requiring less space than the
free growers, as Concord or Noruon's
Virginia. The tendency among grow
ers latterly is to give more distance 20
all varieties than formerly, and with
good reason. The Delaware NAV be
planted eight feet apart with better
success than If more closely planted,
while Concord, Ives, and Norton's
Virginia should have twelve feet be-
tween the vines, though they will sue
coed at less distances. In regard 10
training, the %trellis is no doubt prefer
able to stakes, but more costly, whether
horizontal wires Of large size are used,
as recommended by HusmaHn, OF yer
teal wires Of small size on horizontal
bars. as advocated by Fuller. OF the
two methods of trellising, that of Hus-