St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-01-31
GROWING GRAPES.
The Hennepin County Horticulture
lists Discuss tho Question.


Grape culture is attracting a deal of
attention in this section. The Hennepin
Horticultural society discussed the topic at
Yesterdays meeting. q. 5. WOolsey of
Lake Calhoun spoke eXtemporaneously. CIV
ing his method. He advocated close prun-
ing for large and luscious fruit, and favored
the Rogers for the Minneapolis market.
The Delawares should be pruned close. He
covered his vines with earth in the winter,
but never mulched them in the summer. He
then gave some estimates in which he said
that four year-old vine should grow six to
eight pounds and five-year-old vine ten to
twelve pounds of fruit, with 900 vines to
the acre, each yielding twelve pounds of
grapes, at the market price of 10 cents
pound, the grower would net IS, 900.
One man can care for two acres, but it
Will require his undivided attention. Mr..
Woolsey had grown grapes here for twenty
two years and had only met with failure
Once-year before last.
Nj. Pierce Of Minnetonka followed with
paper on the same theme, with black
board illustrations. The paper was based
upon successful experience in growing
grapes Oh the bank of Lake Minnetonka.
Among other things he said:
In growing grapes in Minnesota, or any
other country, there is but one principle to
understand and follow, and that is to know
how to trim the vines in the fall and man
age them during tine growing season to ena-
bel them to set and ripen their fruit and
ripen the wood and establish the fruit buds
for the next years crop. 1t must be gone
over from year to year, and whoever fails
to do it will have little or no fruit. The
grape requires heat, pure air and sunshine
to bring the fruit to the greatest perfection.
In this country hills sloping to the south are
selected
FOR GRAPE CULTURE
In order to get the greatest degree of heat
and the least north wind, and if planted on
level land protection on the north Shonl Id
be provided. The vineyard that has pro-
duced the earliest and best grapes in this
section is located on the east side of Lake
Minnetonka, about one hundred feet above
the level of the lake, rather steep, and slOp-
ing to the south and surrounded with heavy
timber Usually there is no frost or freeZ-
ing until the last of October. In
the summer time the heat is
often so great that 10 one can stay in il
with any degree of comfort. The soil
should be moderately rich. A clay subsoi
is considered the best. Plow or work deep.
harrow smooth and plant rows at least
seven feet apart. Vines to plant should be
one year old. That is the best age. Shorten
the roots to eight or ten inches and the
tops TO two or three eyes. Set eight inches
deep, little slanting. Drive stake to
each vine: When the plant is excited tC
action and the shoots start select one of the
strongest and tie up to the stake and rub
the others all off and pinch off all laterals
as they appear to one leaf, and thus con-
centrate all the nourishment of the roots.
AT the second pinching have an additional
leaf. When the plant has reached the
height of three feet pinch the top, checking
the upward flow of sap. In the fall cut
back to three buds. Late in the fall remove
little soil at the roots, bend the stalks and
cover with five inches of earth and uncover
In the spring before budding. &.
The paper was generally discussed anC
the society recommend for cultivation tn,
following varieties: The Concord, tn,
Delaware, the Warden and Moore's early
At next Saturdays meeting attention
will be paid to growing beets and peas.