The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-01-21

| rested Dy the aD0Ve-mentlOneu 4u'aIlH0"oion''
we find that the Vitis cordfoia, or Winter grape,
is species possessing great hardihood and adap-
liability to grow and bear abundantly under al
most any condition of climate or locality within
its range of latitude, producing fruit of much
value for wine as well as for table use measur-
ABLY exempt from leaf blight other diseases, it
comprises many of the qualifications necessary
for popular and extensive culture, more particu-
Iarly as a wine grape in northern sections, where
the best wine grape fails to mature.
To the Vitis astiyaIs or Summer grape we are
indebted for varieties of the highest merit and of
the greatest value for wine. 1t is said by those
who are best qualified to give an opinion ON the
! subject that from this species may be expected
| varieties which will furnish wines of superior
| grade. and of such distinctive character from
all other wines as will entitle them to recognition
as american wines. Already wines of distinct
| classification have been made from varieties Of
this species, and have been awarded high consid-
Grafton at foreign expositions.
1t would be well for those who introduce new
varieties of grapes for sale, to accompany the in
PRODUCTION with statement Of their orig in; this
would enable intelligent purchasers to form
tolerably correct opinion to the intrinsic or at
least to the special value of the fruit as well as
to determine the range of climates and best local
tiles for the culture of the plant.
With regard to the necessity of attention to the
best climatic conditions for grape culture it is
enough at present to remark, that where these
conditions are favorable, good crops Of fruit are
the rule and that too, in the absence of what
might be termed ordinary good management; but
in unfavorable locations the application of the
highest degree of skill in the art and science of
vineyard culture, so far as relates to pruning,
training, or similar manipulations of the plant,
or in the culture and management of the soil will
not insure success. Grape culture has now
reached a point from which but little further
progress can be made without close recognition
| of the requirements Of the plant, in connection
with local climatic conditions, the most import
ant being that of freedom from heavy dews. The
Typographical CONFORMATION of locality is of far
more importance than the geological formation
of the SOIL Where the atmospherical conditions
are favorable satisfactory results may be obtained
even from poor soils, as tested by their capabili
| ties of producing ordinary farm crops; but in
ungenial climates the best soils and best culture
will not guarantee success.
AMERICAN HoLDERNEss CATTLE-The Far
mer and Dairyndn pronounces this as being the
only strictly American breed of cattle. It was
originated by Truman A Cole, of Solsville, n. Y,
and is established by twenty-eight years Of the
purest breeding. The animals are medium sized,
are beautifully marked with black and white,
have soft, mellow and golden skins, give a large
flow of rich milk, averaging 800 pounds of butter
! oil hardv Oarf1e
docile and quiet. They come as near the ideal
dairy cattle as any that we know of-and they
are American. Mr.. Cole has reason to be proud
| of his achievement.
IMPROVED METHOD OF FEEDING This
method is explained by Prof. E. W. Stewart, in
an article in the Rural Nep Yorker, as follows:
The new plan is to render it necessary for the
cattle to eat the grain and corn fodder together,
and when thus mixed both are raised and remas-
ticated together. This is accomplished by SIM
ply cutting the unhusked stalks-ears and all
into very short pieces by running them through
large gutter and reducing the whole to fine
chaff. Such large cutter run by sufficient power
will reduce into these thin shavings two tons per
hour, costing less than simple husking. This
breaks the rind of the stalk into fine shreds,
shaving up the cobs splitting most of the kernels
mixing the coarse and the fine parts of the fodder
together rendering all soft and easily masticated
leaving no short edges to irritate the mouth as
when cut one inch or more in length"
The reader will see the greatest improvement
of this plan when he considers that it costs less
labor than husking, as acre of corn can be
thus prepared for feeding in one hour with the
| aid of two men. This method also saves all the
food there is in the crop, carrying out the plan OF
nature to feed the grain and stalk tOgether-the
bulky with the concentrated This will also inn
prove the health ofthe cattle well large
per centage of food. This method also enables the
feeder to compound the ration practically accord
ing to scientific principles. The entire corn crop
stalks and grain, in their best estate-is even
too poor in albuminoids or f1esh-forming sub
stances to make well balanced ration alone
But if two pounds of hnseed meal or cotton-seed
meal be added for each steer per day, it will
balance the constituents Of the ration and fatten
cattle more satisfactorily. Either of these oil
meals may usually bepurchased at the mills fol
$50 per ton, so that this addition to the ration
would cost only about two cents per day for each
steer.
SALT AND LIME.-Mx one bushel Of salt with
two bushels of dry lime, under cover, and allow
the miyture to decomnose gradually thus form.