Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-05-02
Grape Culture.

The following brief, practical and
condensed rules for the management
of grapes, were given by DIR. Whiting,
at the Farmers Institute, recently held
at Saginaw, Michigan:
The soil best suited for grape is de-
composing shade, but any good clay,
soil thoroughly drained will do. =
The ground should be carefully pre-
pared, and only well-rotted manure
used. H e5ll
Decomposing turf is one of the best
fertilizers; when 1t can be obtained, no
other will be required. 80.
The vines selected for planting
should be good one-year-old layers or
cuttings. They may look small, but
will make the best vines.
Good culture Is as necessary to the
vine as to cora or cabbage.
Mulching and watering the first year
should not be neglected ifdrouth is ex.
cessive. One good soaking is better
than many sprinklings. More water
can be saved with hoe than can be
put on with q sprinkler.
In planting cut the vines back TO
two buds, whatever its strength OK
age.
Summer pruning consists in piDching
of weak and struggling shoots in order
to cOnfine the sap to the main branch
e6.
The first summer allow but one main
shoot to grow. In the fall, after the
first frost, cut sll the summer growth
back to within two buds of the ground.
The second year coDfine the sap tn
two branches, aud in the fall cut back
to three buds each.
The third year, il your vine has
made vigorous growth, few stems of
grapes may be allowed to mature, but
better take off all the fruit than suffer
too much to grow.
Too heavy bearing while young will
weaken the vine for all future time.
The trimming now depends on what
kind OF trellis you wish to cover.
After you have obtained = good
vigorous root, you can make, IL grow in
almost any place or shape you wish, by
keeping the branches desired tied up,
and all the Others pinched back.
Each year few of the strongest
branches should be allowed to grow as
bearers of fruit the following year.
In trimming, cut away as much Of
the cid wood as possible and the new
wood.
You can easily tell how much to cut
away BY holding your new wood up
with three stems Of grapes for each
but.
If you do not cut of enough In the
fall, and you find that the vine Is going
to be too thick, don't fail to attend TO
har ha oh from fhRar
TO six inches long, in the spring, or
while in blossom. AS soon as the mutt
is set examine the vine, spread out the
new wood so that each bunch Of grapes
will hang free and clear, pick OF all
the small stems of fruit, and fasten the
vines securely, so that the wind will
not destroy your crop by breaking the
young and tender branches. -5.f
When the wood has grown 50 that
there are three leaves beyond the last
bunch Of grapes examine the vine,
select the branches you wish TO save
keep them tied up until they have
grown as long as you wish to make use
of. The ends OF tho other bearing
branches should be pinched of as soon
as they reach this point, three leaves
beyopd the last stem Of grapes
Break off all shoots and laterals as
fast rs they make their appearance, but
on no account injure the leaves on the
bearing canes.
The fruit will color but not ripen II
the leaves are destroyed.
Grapes for fall and winter use should
be picked rs soon as ripe, and when
perfectly dry, packed Ia fne dry saw
dust. Select your box or jar, cover the
bottom with sswdust, then layers OF
grapes and sawdust alternately until
full. Keep them In the coolest place
you can aud free nom most, until
wanted for use.