Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-04-18
GRAPE CULTURE.

The best vines are those grown from
cuttings having two eyes, in which a
single system of r. OTIS radiate from the
lower eye, like the spokes Of a wheel
and the vine grows cut of the top bud.
One-year old vines are to be preferred
in all cases, if first class; even if2 years
old. root pruned and transplanted vines
should be offered at the same price.
In planting vines, the single tier OF
roots should be set as low in the ground
as may be, and keep the upper node,
from Which the vine has started, out OF
the ground, SO that new roots will not
grow from it. Unless this precaution is
taken. a new upper tier of roots, thus
encouraged to grow, will after time,
usurp aud displace the other, aud the
action of frost in clayey soil will gradual
", and sometimes in single winter,
throw the vine out of the ground and
expose these upper roots in an injurious
way, and this condition remains
permanent. The best time of the year
is that which occurs first, always premis-
ing that the soil should be mellow and
pliable, and if in aut umn, shoveful OF
loan should be used so as to completely
bury the two or three buds only that are
left upon the vine above the surface.
The earlier in autumn or spring that
the work is done, the better, providing
the conditions are as stated.
The distance at which vines should be
set will depend somewhat upon the
strength of the soil, and the mode of
training adopted. fin all respects, as
before advised, the best distance is be-
lieved to be primarily, in rows eight feet
apart, with the vines six feet apart, in
the rows which perfectly run north and
south. 1t will be matter of great con-
venience to have the rows consist of but
twenty-five vines, thus occupying LA
feet in length; thin, by emitting one
vine, a space of twelve feet will be left
for access between Two vineyards. If
favor, or rather, if they
seem to require, as the vines get age
and strength, each alternate vine, in
Guiding the two end ones in each row,
may lie re moved, thus leaving twelve
vines in each that will stand eight by
twelve feet apart.
Aim )st any hoed crop may be grown
in the viney ard fer one or two years if
an equivalent amount of fertilization be
given, but after this time grape vines
only. Many and various are the i'm
plements that have been tried for culti-
walton and discarded. The pillow is here
Cultivation should be
shallow, perhaps two inches is ample,
and this should be done in way that
will not disturb the larcer roots, the
great body of which lie from three to
six inches deep. The last summers
experience has proved the one horse
"Acme" harrow to be exactly the thing
1t is an implement that disturbs the soil
from one to five inches deep, at the will
of the driver. or in hard ground the
rider, and never cuts of the larger roots,
even if lying at the surface. Cultivation
should begin each year as soon as the
ground will pulverize in the spring and
be Jenewel after every packing rain, or.
In the absence of rain. before crop of
weeds has time 10 show the third leaf.
1t is surprising how little labor is re-
quired in this country to raise good
crops of grapes. OF course it requires
care, but all products of the soil require
that.