The National tribune., 1881-09-03
FARM AND GARDEN.

As autumn approaches, we receive number of
inquiries as to the method of preserving grapes
for winter 1t is not generally understood
that there is as much difference in grapes. with
respect to their keeping, as there Is with other
fruits. No one would expect to keep early har-
vest apples or Bartlett pears for the holidays, and
1t is so with the most generally cultivated grape,
the Concord; it cannot be made to keep in good
condition long after it is fairly ripe. With other
varieties it is different There are some localities
where that grand old grape, the Catawba, can still
be cultivated with success, and where this is the
case, one need hardly to look for better variety
The Isabella still succeeds in some places. and is
a fair keeper. Better than either if not the best
of all grapes the Iona gives good crops in some
places, as does the Diana. Where either of these.
the Isabelle, Catawba, Iona, or Diana. can be
grown, there is no difficulty in keeping them
until the first of the New Year or later. The
grapes are allowed to rpen fully; they are picked
and placed in shallow trays, in which they re-
main in an airy room to cure" The operation
of curing consists merely in way OF whiting, by
which the skin becomes tOughened, and will not
break when the fruit is packed. The clusters,
when properly cured" are packed in boxes.
usually OF three or five pounds each. The bottom
of the box is opened, the larger clusters laid in
carefully, and smaller bunches packed in upon
them in such manner that it Will require
moderate pressure to bring the cover or. properly
the bottom, of the box to its place, where it is
nailed down. The pressure used is such that
when the top of the box is opened the grapes
next to it are found somewhat flattened. The
fruit must be pressed in such a manner that it
,I,,I-
with grapes the skin of which has been toughened
by being properly cured If clusters placed
in the box as they come from the vines and sub
iected to the needed pressure, the skin would
crack around the stems, liberating the Juice and
the whole would soon pass into decay Towards
Christmas and New Years, many tons of the
varieties we have named come to the New York
market in excellent condition. New varieties Of
grapes, of great excellence have recently been in
troduced, but We have yet to learn to their
keeping qualities. With the Concord and related
varieties, the skin is TOO tender to allow OF long
keeping, and it does not seem to tougher in the
curing process. Still, with these, the seasen for
home use may be considerably prolonged. The
late Mr.. Knox found that he could keep the Con-
cord for some time by placing the thoroughly
leaves of the vine below and between them We
do not know how long this Will keep these grapes,
but saw some in excellent condition several
weeks after the harvest was over. Those who set
grape-vines should he aware that no one variety
will meet every requirement, and that the earlier
the variety, the less likely it will be to keep
american Agriculturid.
To PREPARE night soil for use on land mix it
thoroughly with any dry absorbent powdered
charcoal. dry muck, road dust or sfted coal ashes
that all Jumps may be broken fine, and then
apply ii as any other manure.
CABBAGE is best given to poultry whole. hung
up by the stalk. At first it may not he touched,
but when one fowl begins to peck at it the rest
viii be tempted to keep until little remains.
Being suspend d, it does not waste or become
polluted, and it Will remain in good condition to
be eaten at Will.