The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-12-25


. and when properly attended to ther'
is nothing will give larger returns
New varieties should be tested, anc
greater attention given TO this in
dustry. At some future time, we vii
write an article upon the subject o
vineyards, but the following from
New Orleans Times Is good and should
be read by those interested on the sub
ject of grapes: u.
: "THE VINEYARD"
Vineyards should be well cleaned
fertilizers applied in December. Bone
meal, ground bones or phosphates
should be strewed on the surface and
well forked in. For this purpose no.
thing is better than II HeXamer prong
ed hoe. Stable manure unless well
rotted, shou d be scattered evenly and
allowed to leach in gradually during
the winter.
PRUNING
This is The season to prune the vine
yard. Choose the first cool weather
when the sap IS inactive. For this
work use nothing but the best steel
pruning shears. A thorough grape
culturist can prune an acre OF vines
per diem, with the assistance of two
or three smart boys to remove the cut
tings. These may be thrown on the
ground aud gathered up by running
small pillow down the rows and de-
posting them at the ends in piles.
When it is intended to propagate
vines from cuttings, these should be
gathered up, put in n safe place and
covered with straw OF grass to prevent
drying out, when they may be pre-
pared at your leisure. The refuse cut
tings should be burnt and the ashes
strewn over the vineyard for fertiliz-
ing purposes.
CUTTINGS.
Nearly every variety of cuttings
will grow in the Gulf States, if plant
ed between December 18th and JAN
uary 18th. The soil shGuld be deeply
titled and well fertilized for this pur-
pose. Sufficient space must be allow
ed to permit the passage of cultiva-
tor, small plow or horse hoe during
the growing season, thereby saving
much labor, and insuring good
growth.
NEW VARIETIES.
These should be touched lightly.
Among the most promising early
kinds for the lower Gulf States are
the Beaconsfeld -Tyler's Champion,
Brighton and Moore's Early. The
Concord and Ives Seeding are still the
favorite of many persons, but do not
succeed so well on low lying lands as
the Esteralis species. Low wet lands
are not good for the grape, and all
such should be welland deeply ditched.
RULES FOR SETTING oUTA VINEYARD.
l. Plow deeply. 2. Pulverize well.
3. If pulverizer is used ground bones
are the best for speedy, and broken
ones for lasting results. If the soil is
deficient in humous and OF a dry sandy
nature, muck, decayed leaves, etc,
should be added to assist nature in dis
solving the fertilizer for the use of the
roots. 4. Always plant in straight
rows, and if possibles, run them north
and south, to give proper ventilation
when in bearing. This may he done
by planting or driving stakes at pro-
per interval and sighting them both
ways.
DISTANCES APART.
Eight by seven is good distance
for all thrifty growing plants of the
Labrusca species. For the Brighton
and Delaware six feet each way is
enough. The Esteralis species, such
as the Hebermont and NOrtOn's Vir-
ginia, may be allowed "a larger space
in the rows-say ten feet in the rows
by seven in width. The Wits vulpini
or the scuppernong should be allowed |
from fifteen to twenty each way, as
they will cover that space, if well cul-
tivated, in five years, or less time.
HIGH PRUNING.
There is an old adage still in vogue
that those who prune high will soon
have to climb. Where it is intended
to train vines on the trellis plan Il
happy medium generally gives the
best results. The arms should be
started about two and half feet from
the ground, which will allow a suffi-
Gent space to pass the hoe and assist
III the clean culture of the plant.
Upon low lands and in very damp
localities we think the system adopted
by our friend Casper Wild is pre-
ferable. This consists of an arbor
on pos about six feet
high, braoed with wood strips, which
should be well coated with some ma
terial to prevent the rot, and these
interlaced with No. IA (galvanized)
wire. This, if we'll put up, will last
for many years, and grapes grown
upon this style of arbor are more apt
to be free from rot than when trained ,
low. Our only objection to this meth
Od when practiced on a large scale,
arises from the back breaking and :
performance, which
must necessarily take place duriug the
pruning periods. ..... ]
THE FUTURE OF GRAPE-GROWING IN
THE SOUTH. !
The magnitude of the grape and wine !
interest and It's Importance in none
AIRY point of view, is but little under !
food in the Southern States. We are
pound to become an important factor /
n the production of wine for exports, 5
or it seems that wine-making from Il
,rapes IS doomed to humiliation in
Yearly every country in Europe. OF |
curse, it will he some years before the
production ceases entirely, and then \
heir sole source of supply will be the I
United States. A
Is it not then reasonable to suppose /
hat Louisiana will produce her share G
+ wine to dispose of to her less fortu- Il
ate neighbors on the other side of the
To encourage these indus s
ries the State must have an expert II
mental farm whence may be dissent S
ated, not only grape vines, but other .
aluable fruits, plants and vegetables. 4
tut before this much needed institu- !,
on can be put into succe ssful opera "
on, the order of Patrons of Husband lie
Y, soon to be reorganized in Louisi- b
ma on new and permanent basis, A
ill demand from their representatives X
his much to be desired institution for )
evelOping our resources. "a
We acknowledge the receipt of IA "
from w. H. Sisbony, G
So, regarding portable evaporatOrs Ell
I'd incubators to which we will re- sc
)Ond in due season. q
Use Plaster. w