Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-07-02
GRAPES UNDER GLASS.
Hot-House Culture - Hardihood of the
Vines And the Secrets Of Their Culfiva-

Il have been growing these vines
eight years. said 8 celebrated gar
dener who acquired his knowledge of
growing exotic fruits and flowers in the
service of one of the wealthiest English
Lords, as he stood in the middle of one
of his graperies south of the city, and
looked proudly up at the heavy clusters
of fruit Although not fully developed
or showing the first indication of ripen-
ing, they already resembled in size the
remarkable bunch of vinous fruits with
which the illustrations of old-fashioned
Sunday-school literature show the two
individuals burdened who were sent to
.'spy OUT the land OF promise
Il consider the perfect condition of
these vines and the prolific Weld as
genuine triumph over the rigors of eli
mate" continued the gardener. in
tone of satisfaction. Il brought the
original slips, snugly packed IN cotton.
from England. and have from them
propagated all the vigorous climbers
YOU see in both of the lighthouses, be-
side supplying shoots to several of the
few gentlemen hereabouts who Ike TO
exper .ment a little with hot-house
grape-culture-
How long win these vines live and
continue to bear:
Il could have them healthy and
laden with fruits every season for
hundred years to come if l could live
so long. Grapevines are possessed of
q far longer lease of life than man Hot
house vines, intelligently cared for.
<,,1 r. for hor
are brought to the most perfect devel-
opment possible Work? Well l
should say so. No one who is unac-
quainted with the details of raising
grapes under glass can have the least
idea of it. In this bleak climate it is
an especially difficult matter. The
firing up Of the house must begin by
the first of October, anyway. and usu-
ally BY the middle of September. and
continue, al least. until the middle Of
June Unless all indicat ons fail We
shall not let our fires out this year till
close on to the Ist of July Everything
IS just three weeks later this spring than
last. The temperature must be closely
watched every hour. From the time
the plants flower not a drop of water
should be allowed TO fall on them. Be
fore that, during the resting period.
they may be spr nkled. The remainder
of the time moisture must be supplied
by watts of water placed at intervals
through the houses. and by keeping the
ground thoroughly damp
Are these vines not growing in
tubs?''
oh. no, they are planted in the earth
itself. genuine loan well MANFRED
The sulphur YOU see sprinkled all along
the steam pipes is TO combat with the
mildew. The dampness and high tenn
perature generate a very rapid growth
By this fungus. and if we did not use
SULPHUR the vines foliage, and fruit it
self would soon be covered with the
parasite. About the worst enemy to
the grapes that we have to contend with
is the -mealy bug Wait a moment
and I'll show YOU one said he. be
ginning TO search among the thick
leaves over his head. Here's one,
extending the index finger upon VIII
rested a small. white atom seemingly
without head legs, or other members
He completely shines and gums the
entire crop when he gets chance.
The only way to get rid of him is to 60
over every leaf in the grapevines and
brush him off with a camefs hair brush
i've insects with which we are troubled
are the red spider and black thrp,
both of which snccumb TO heavy to-
bacco smoke We make regular to-
bacco smudge sometimes.
AT what temperature do You keep
the houses?'
The degree of heat is increased
with the growth of the fruit. of course.
1t begins at forty-five degrees and is in
creased to 100. The night tempera-
ture is of necessity higher than the
day heat Each bunch of grapes. as
YOU see, is carefully tied and supported
with narrow fat str. ps of ght manila
This is done in order TO keep them from
breaking with their own weight, and to
give each separate grape the same OPP
portunity to develop aud not interfere
with its neighbor. The yield in this
house VIII be from three TO four thou
sand pounds, and about the same
amount N the other one
DO you mean that each of these
hundreds of punches is separately ham
died and tied?''
.-Certa My Moreover, before tying
each bunch was pruned and robbed of
at least half its growth. so that the re-
mainder should grow N perfect pro-
portions and have greater strength to
develop 10 a large size. After the
grapes are set half or more of the
buHches are cut off before the rest
are pruned. Not more than a fourth
of the grapes that first appear
are permitted to remain. The nu-
trItive qualities of the plants
are therefore centered in a small guam
tit- Of fruit. and this is one of the rea-
sons-pernaps the most important one
why the dollhouse grape is possessed
of such superior flavor and size. How
ever. with grapes that are grown ex-
clusivelv for the market this prec aution
is not taken. the effort being 10 get as
large a number of lunches as possible
instead of developing the finest fruit
possible Grapes are grown consider
ably under glass about New York
Philadelphia and Boston for the mar
ket, but to scarcely any extent here.
The crop is contracted for by a local
dealer, but can tell you there is not
cent IN growing such grapes as these
for sale with the prices they will COM
mand in this country. l am thinking
of removing nv vines and putting in
roses, for there's money in roses. Hot
house fruit-grow ne is my hobby and /
can't bear to give it up entirely. 1t Is
a continued study and as Ease mating
as painting. Every day / learn some
secret by nature from my vines that
was unknown to me the day before
But grape growing has engrossed
the attention of scholars and poets
even almost since history began
sent grape broker in New York a