The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-02-25
Although our State is. said to be the

able failure, on account OF deficiency IN
quality and quantity. In planting, .
low or moist situation shohld by all
means be avoided.
What varieties TO plant is, undoubted-
ly, difficult matter to decide, but from
the experience have gained the follow
ing varieties are worthy of consideration.
1 will give a brief description of the
varieties cultivated in my fathers vine.
yard, which may serve somewhat to
guide the planter in q selection.
Wilder-A fine grape, bunch and berry
large, ripens a few days eaflier than
Concord, color black.
tyes-A poor grape for market, but a
good grape for wine, bunch large, berry
small, color black.
Niagara-A large white grape, ofSood
quality. I saw the grape In New York
last summer and Nas very much pleased.
This variety is worthy of an extensive
trial.
Prentiss-This is without a doubt q
fine market grape, bunch and berry
medium. l have a few vines of it in
bearing, in different parts of my vine
yard, color white.
Massasoit=-An Il sarly grape of excellent
quality. bunch medium, berry large. 1t
is considered one of the best in cultiya-
tion, ripens week before the Concord,
color, pale red.
Martha-This was considered until
lately the best white grape in cultivation
but now 1t is superseded by better sorts.
Bunch and berry medium.
Liudley-Bunch large, berry about the
size of Martha, an abundant bearer,
color pale red.
Goethe-This I consider the best and
most reliable of the Roger varieties.
Bunch medium, berry large. 1t resem-
bles the Malaga grape very much. Its
color is pale red when fully ripe.
Concord--This variety is the most re-
liable and productive, and has been more
extensively planted than any otheri and
upon whole it may be said its sue.
cess has been greater than that of any
other variety. Bunch and berry large.
1t ripcns with US about the first OF
August. Its color is black.
There are various methods of pruning
and training, and each has its supporters.
The fact is the vine is so productive that,
with ordinary treatment, it will yield its
luscious sweets. Yet while so grateful
for a common existence, under i'll usage
its expansive powers become contracted,
and its disposition is rendered stubborn
in which case the quality of the fruit is
poor and the flavor inferior. AS prun.
ing has something to do with this, I will
explain the modes 1 practice and state
the results obtained.
The first summer after planting all
that is necessary is to keep the ground
free from weeds, and W. rk the soil we'll
Allow but one shoot to grow, rubbing of
all others. This shoot should be topped
when about three feet high, so that the
wood will be strong and healthy. In
the winter when we prunc, Gu! the vines
in length according to thickness. II
very strong, say three or four eyes, il
small to one or two eyes. The vine, as
we stand before it, is made up of old aud
new wood. Vines older than one year
have no bud, but they bear canes, which
grew the season before. Every vine
large or small, is mainly made up o.
these canes, from which we expect oul
crops. A young vine has but few, but Q
large old vine will show mass of them
However perplexed and confused an old
vine may be, if properly pruned it will
yield its sweets.
We now find our young vines of last
summer pruned to say two or three eyes
from which the next summer we may
expect two strong shoots, which wher
about two and half feet high should be
topped, so that the buds on the canes
will produce laterals, or side shoots
which will produce more and finer fruit
than those on the main stem. In the
fall or winter prune these laterals, OF
side shoots, to one or two eyes, according
to the strength of the vine, so as to be
moro sure of fruit and to avoid growing
number of shoots for which we have
no use. We wish to direct the energies
of the vine to the production of fruit,
rather than to the forming of great
mass Of shoots.
Those who have many vines or vine.
yard will have some fixed method Of
training. Many train to stakes, and it
may be cheaper, yet it is more labor, and
the vines are cramped together. My ex-
perience has taught me that the wire
trellis is far the best, and is recommended
by every one who has tried it. There is
some prejudice existing against the
use of wire, as it has been thought that
it does injury to the vines by rusting,
but 1 do not 6ud it SO. The wire system
will allow free circulation of air, and is
more convenient to tie to, and in the end
much cheaper; there is no use in fol-
lowing old customs as long as better ones
can be introduced.
Few are aware of the Importance of
grape growing. In some localities, not
far from New York City, notably on the
banks of Lake Keuka, large areas are
devoted to grape growing. The grower
Of grapes has an advantage over bhose
who send strawberries and raspberries to
market, in the fact the fruit is not readily
perishable. If not sold to day, it may
be to morrow, and will keep, if need be,
for several days. hope what l have