National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-19
Grane Craving. No. 3.

In the last article some details were promised
in regard to location, planting, &c. In regard to
favorable grape climate, Prof. VIM. Saunders in
his report to the Agricultural Department, says:
1.-THE distinguishing popularity Of good grape
climate is that Of the entire absence Of mldew on
the foliage" which also implies the absence Of
too much humidity and profusion of deWs. $50
far as present knowledge warrants an opinion,
good wine growing region is one where the season
of growth is Of sufficient length to ripen to per-
lection our best grapes exempt from late spring
trosts, heavy summer aeWs ana early autumn
The most experienced and successful growers
uniformly agree that lands lying on rock founda-
and that they should be deep, porous and well
drained, SO as to be mellow and allow the atmOs-
phere to reach and circulate at least eighteen
inches deep, and all the better If the ground Is
full Of small or broken stones, which allows all
excess Of moisture freely to pass off in wet time,
and also retains proper degree OF moisture IN a
gree OF manure, Of which leaf-mOld or debris from
the forests is the best, including a liberal guam
When the land is selected for the vineyard It
should be ploWed deep and fine; then we'll har-
roWed; then with tWo-horse pillow run burrows
eight or ten feet apart; then mark across at right
angles six or eight feet; at the corners or cross
ings set q good hardwood stake firmly, so that
the top will be about two to three feet high; on
these string small wire, fastened at the top with
staple. Plant vine or cutting at each one OF
these stakes; II rooted vine, put It into the
iOC Sc earth and lesEmold about the roots; If cut
tiDgs are planted they should be put down so that
the upper bud is just concealed at the surface OF
the ground, the upper wood being cut on very
II the weather be dry these plantings-whether
roots or cuttings-should be lightly Watered each
evening till the roots sprout and get good hold
Of the soil, and begin to gather moisture.
The young vines which make from the buds
should be led up the stakes and tied to the wires
with willow tHigs or some soft string which is
cheap and economical.
using wires for trellis or using poles neither,
but taller stakes and train his vines up the
stakes; but the common and better opinion is in
For the irst two years It will be well to Guilt
Vate some hoed crop, as corn, potatoes, cabbage,
or the like, between the rows, and keep the
stirred as good culture is necessary, with plenty
Of compost or manure to make good crop, TO
tscts ~ and nIantsd viii be Setermined from two
considerations: FIRST, adaptability TO the climate
and locality, such as will do best in the particu
be grown, whether for the table tor wine, while
| the market will also have some weight in the
choice Of sorts to be grown.
Some notifications and difference VIII De Cd
served, Of course in different cases. but the above
directions will be found generally correct. At all
be dispensed with; that is, the ground must be
we'll drained, deeply cultivated and mellow, so
as to be dry and porous to allow the roots to
range and descend, and to allow the air free cir
culation in the soil.
To be sure, grape culture to succeed we'll re-
| quires thoughtful care and skillful attention,
rather than severe labor, but it gives greater re-
turns than merely hard hand labor-divdlng
literally with the mind the task, which makes It
all the more noble and interesting, adding dig
nifty to the useful. And far greater results or
profits have been realized from grape-groEing
than from grain growing. In previous number
we gave some large products, well authenticated
by State horticultural societies and reports OF
the Agricultural Department.
In the northern part Of Michigan, Muskegon
cOunty. MI III. MOultOQ has raised $1,000 baskets
Of good grapes on eleven acres Of land; at only
three cents per pound that would give & 400, or
E2l9 per acre; and in that northern climate which
result ought to be far exceeded in the long, warm
seasons Of Virginia and Maryland. Pruning,
eultiVating and dressing treated in the next arti
Gle. POTOMAC.