The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-08-31

81
ID. H. and ID. u. Pcd-n .
Several others have from one to half
dozen acres in vineyards, but the above
will show at once the importance of the
grape IN this immediate section. Mr..
w. +. ii. Searcy, who has been en-
gagged in fruit culture for some wears.
(and who it viii not be out the way to
mention - ut present building what vii,
he one of the han6 somest residences in
Middle Georgia, on his place in the east
ern suburbs OF The city,) is preparing to
add what VIII be the largest vineyard in
Spaiding county. He is scientific as
well as pratlcai fruit grower, and goes
about 1t 4, undeIstan dingly as the cotton
planter goes about Ia : business knowing
quite well what the result of his
iaboIs will be. This gentleman is going
more largely IN the fruit business h.
cause he sees profit IN il. and to his a ready
comfort ibte income he proposes to- add
many shekeis through his fruits. Be-
sides his fruit farms here he has a SPLEEN
did orange grove near Barlow, Fla. and
also ow as several houses in that thrifty
little city, the LAGER paying him good
rents while waiting for the former To
come into bearing. Mr.. Searcy's new
vineyard will be made up largely of two
very choice varieties of grapes, the Mag
ara and the Empire State. 1ney are of the
finest white varieties, and for an early
and medium fruit they stand pre-em-
inent, and always find ready market
and command good price. The plants
are vigorous, hardy and reliable, and he
believes that should the fruit men of
Florida want good l.ape for that sec
ton none more desirable could he fou nd
The Lady Washington he also rec
ON mends for a home and early market
variety. 1t IS "A snowy and very attract
i've variety and is almost a certain bearer.
OF the Duchess, another very excellent
grape, Mr.. ScHrcy says much in praise.
Ii is noted for its beauty, being of large
and compact lunches, medium sized
berries and IN color a b-eenish white
For the table the Duchess is great ia
vorite with many and brings a fine
pr.ce, but to shin wei, it pays to sack
each bunch or cluster, as if this Is not
done the grapes often mash and become
unsightly. This variety of the plant has
stood without the buds being injured
when the mercury was at pa degrees
below zero.
The Worden, a Seeding of the Con-
cord variety. has become of late much
in favor. 1t is very much the same as
the old Concord. but has some superior
qualities, and has taken the place, to a
great extent, of that old and once most
popular variety. Another of the same
family is MoOre's Early, fruit that is
some earlier to ripen than the original.
and in every way superior article. The
Warden and Concord are both fine mar
ket varieties as well as good wine grapes
The Delaware is good grape. of del
icate flavor, tender, juicy and an early
ripener. 1t Is an espe clally fine table
grape.
Mar. Keller is firm in his belief that
there is more in the Ives sedling for the
grower than any other variety, while
Mr.. Searcy bows at the shrine of the Nj
agara and the Empire State. While
they, the grapes, have each the best
qualities to recommend them, and few
indeed to condemn, their respective
champions have no words of disparage-
ment to urge against the others choice,
"A fact that goes far in satisfying me that
they are about the best and safest va
rIetieS extant.
Good land is used on which to cult
vate grapes, and the plants are pruned
every year with careful attention, vet il
does not require the whole time of the
fruit grower. OF course a vineya ard can
not take care OF itself, and the best results
grow out of an intelligent cultivation.
F.om COO to 500 vines are set to the acre
The vines will bear in two years; in
three years IA good crop will be realized:
the fourth yesr "a profitable crop, and the
fifth year the vineyard will be at full
bearing, at which time five pounds to the
plant is considered an average crop only.
ke your ps neil and see what this VIII
amount to- about 3, 800 pounds per acre.
Twelve pounds of grapes will make a
gallon of good wine.
In the early days of the Woodruff
farm it was no uncommon thing for the
grapes produced there II net % cents per
pound to the grower. OF late, however,
the price has assumed more steady
standard. though lower. The first in the
market this year brought about IL cents, |
from which figure in the middle of the |!
season the price dropped to cents, but |
over cents pound. With these fig