The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-09-25

e. X APE Ct LIT RE.
\ buslne>> that Night be- Made Very
Extensive in North Carolina.

\ Busine>- that Night be Made Very
Extensive IN North Carolina.
Tins Is che If the most delicious of
fruits. yet the amount Of ignorance in It's
culture : astonishing persons farming
all their lives knowing no more about il
than # they had never seen il The SIT
uauon must be dry; Il not, II musi be made
so 10y draining or otherwise The vines
cannot have Wet feet and prosper They
delight il a situation that j. high and dry.
with porous Subs0l
/ The distance 10 plant wares with the
variety and kind Of sofia rich soil Will
require wide planting. If YOU wish 10
raise your own vines, YOU must make the
cuttings about siX or eight inches long,
containing from two To four buds, cut
! those To the lower bud in the autumn, AZ
ter the leaves fall or in the early winter
befor' cold weather Injuries the buds; then
bury them III some dry piece of ground.
below reach Of frost Early in the spring
as soon as the ground is dry enough. ia
some deep, rich land dig out trench A.
deep as the cuttings in this set the cut
lungs about four inches apart, a little slop-
| ing towards the north G.aving the trench
running east and vest; then throw in the
clay you took ont Of the trench, and tread
1t firmly around the base OF the cutting TO
within three inches of the top; this You
must MI with the loose earth up to the top
| bud Then take board from six to
| twelve inches wide and set in on its edge
close up to the cuttings on the south side;
then keep the weeds down and the ground
cultivated, and in June they viii begin 10
root.
Have the land of your vineyard plowed
deeply as If for crop; harrow smooth.
If 1t could be plowed fifteen or eighteen
inches deep, it would be better for the
vines Dig holes or plow trenches wild.
and deep enough to take in the roots with
out crowdlng them. At the same time
plant a firm stake III the hole with the vine.
When taken up out of the nursery bed cut
the young plant back to two eyes, and when
they start III the spring rub one off and let
the strongest grow, and rs it lenghens tie
it up to the stake, and pinch back the lat
erals, If any grow, to one leaf.
In The fall cut the young vine back to
three buds; and the next spring rub off
one ana let the strongest two go, and tie
| them to stakes, us done the first year.
Then in the fall trim these two canes back
to three or four feet, according to its
strength.
Young vines will usually bear few
punches the second year after being set
out bat it is best not to let them bear I'M
! til the third year; although two punches
might be left on a strong vine.
At the beginning of the third year the
| trellls must be set up. post Is set be
tween each vine, and to those posts three
wires or Stats are fastened, one above the
| other, the first about eighteen inches from
the ground Cthe vines may be planted from
| eight to fourteen feet IN row, and the rows
! from eight to ten feet apart, according to
/ the variety) These canes are bent down
horizontally and fastened to the lower wire,
/ am .lI fTu IA, low x-.,I
to grow, and every bud will have from
two to three bunt hes of grapes.
The fourth year two of the canes on
| each vine are allowed to grow. and the
other cut down to one bud, and from these
| the canes Tor next years truitlG = re al
! lowed 10 grow. The canes that are bear
| iug the fruit must be nippcl back when
! they grow tincc leaves beyond the last
| bunch Of grapes on the cane. Always bear
| in mind that no fruit grows from two year
old wood; it is only on wood that grew
| the previous season.
Every year in the fore part Of the season,
| keep the ground we'll cultivated. As soon
as the vines are trimmed in the fall they
should be taken down from the trellis and
laid on The ground, and if they will not
| stay down, throw some dirt on the ends
of the canes to hold them; by doing 50
they will not get winter killed. Do not
| throw any manure on the roots when
| planting, but spread it on the top of the
group as a mulch. DO not let the vine
yard get filed with grass and weeds, or
you will get but few grapes.
There are I; great many varieties, but
the Concord seems to be the grape for the
million. Martha is white grape, some
what earlier, Of good flavor. Clinton is
later than Concord and good keeper.
Ives Seeding is a hardy grape and good
| for wine, but | think grapes generally can
| be put to better use. Delaware is a small,
delicious grape, and requires a rich soil.
There are many new grapes that seem to
| be coming into favor. Among these is the
! Lady-a fine white grape and very early.
No family should be without number Of
vines, who has got enough ground to grow
them. OF course situation makes great
difference in flavor-thOse situated on
high land and not too rich soil being the
sweetest and best favored.
A great many people are prevented from
planting grape vines because they think
there is some great mystery in their cult
vatiOn and trimming. In trimming, cut
out all the old wood you can, and supply
its place with wood of one years growth.
In looking at the books on grape culture,
it is set forth there nice science, but
| find | cannot always get the vine to grow
books These books do very We'll to give
us a knowledge of the principles and hab-
its Of the vine, but every person must use
his own Judgment. Practice Will do a
great deal. Farmers cannot always give
! undivided attention to their vines like
persons who make grape culture their
calling, but they can raise plenty of grapes
if they give a little attention a. the right
time.
| find the demand for grapes grows with
their use. l sell many to farmers who, a
few years ago never used grape. Their
uses are many in the family They do
we'll for canning. Let every one try if he
cannot raise his own grapes Vines are
plenty and cheap. The use of the grape
will tell on the health of the family, and
save your doctors bill. No fear Of the
little ones eating too many; they cannot
eat enough to hurt them. Plant grape
vines.
G. VI. ID.