Middletown transcript., 1878-04-13
9gutularal.
one Grape vine.

of those who live IN villages, have
room fer several vines, and those who
live on farms have room for all the
vines they care to plant. Several
years ago we had occasion to call upon
a distinguished general Of the U. 5.
Army, who was stationed in New York
City. Our business over, he took us
into his back yard, probably 25 by 80
feet. We found along the fences some
5 or 10 grape vines, all properly la
beled. We asked for how long he
had taken the house. He informed US,
for year, but was liable to be ordered
off at any time. We remarked that
he could get no returns from his vines
until the next year. He replied that
he was we'll aware Of that, but he made
it a rule, wherever he went, to plant
vines, for, he said. somebody will get
the fruit from them" We had heard
Of this officers heroism when on the
staff of Gen Scett, in the Mexican
war, but this remark, Somebody Will
get the fruit from them,' showed him
to be a good as well as a great man.
"Why do people have so few grapes =
is question that has often puzzled us.
Go over the country, and we find the
farms that have an abundance Of
grapes are few, while those who have
none are in the majority. Those who
live in towns and villages, with but q
few feet of land, will have grapes in
abundance, while those who have 80
or 100 acres, or more, are without this
welcome fruit. Why is this? It GER
tainly cannot be the cost, for 25c., to
SOC. is the average price Of vines. We
think it is from some feeling that vines
are difficult to manage, that there is
some mystery" about pruning that
they cannot master, that prevents the
general planting of vines. Now we
advise every one who has the land
and if that be but 10 feet square, it
will hold several vines-every farmer,
who would provide his family with
this most acceptable fruit, and, We
may add, would increase the attrac-
tions Of home, to plant out grape vines.
1t must be strange farm that caunot
find place for them, as we have over
30 vines in a space 200x100 feet, and
all in full bearing There is nothing
about the vine, its training and prun-
ing, that any one can not understand.
We head this article zone Grape
Vine," because what may be done
with one vine, may be done with five,
or fifty, or more. The first question
will be, "What kind shall I plant ?"
As a general thing, if one knows
nothing about vines vines, and IS is to put out
but one, we say plant "Concerd." :"
But we do not advise any one who has
the room, to restrict himself to one, so
we add as a list to choose from, Della
ware, Creveling, Hartford Prolific,
Barry, Wilder, Brighton and Eume-
Ian. These are all good, as family
grapes, though not equally good mar
ket sorts, and are generally successful.
Now, when you order vine from a
nursery, what do you get? If the
nurseryman understands his business,
you will get-not a big vine-but
copious root, with stem having, per-
haps, three or four buds upon it.
When you get the vine or vines, make
the soil mellow-neyer mind manure
now-open broad hole, spread the
roots, and cover them about inches
deep. But, before setting the vine,
put down stake, abont 6 feet high,
and plant the vine with the stem close
to the stake. Spread the roots well,
have them covered with the best of
the top-soil, and when covered, press
down firmly with the foot. Now, what
have you got? You have the roots
well planted, and dead-looking stem,
with B or 4 punches along it. These
punches on the stem are buds, and the
growth Of the vine will start from
them. Watch them we'll. You will
find, perhaps, that the uppermost swells
and breaks first, then the next below
will break, and after that the others.
The first thing to do is to rub off all
but the two best and strongest of the
buds, and when the uppermost, or the
next below it, has made a shoot long
enough to tie to the stake, tie that to
the stake with piece Of soft cotton
twine, bass mating, or whatever will
hold it without cutting. And then
break off the other shoot-you will
hate to do it, as it looks so promising
but the only way to start right, is to
grow but one shoot the first year, and
to keep that tied up to stake as it
grows. Certainly there is nothing
difficult about this, and whoever does
it, with one vine, or one hundred will
have made a fair start. Let the vine
grow, keeping it tied up, and later, we
will tell what to do with it.
Where to plant vines.-Anywhere,
where there is six square feet of soil.
They may be trained to special trel-
lises, and this is necessary where there
are many, but vine may be trained
70 a Rapca IN the side of a she'd or .