Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-02-12
Something about Grapes.

Inc grape-grOWerS OF Northern Chau
| tauqua, n. T., and Northeast Township
Pa, met at Northeast a few days ago and
| discussed the best modes of conducting
their business. Most of the growers
| had found it best to drain the land well
if naturally wet, and then enrich and
| cultivate the soil until it was deep,
strong and mellow. 1t IS then plowed
in narrow lanes, leaving the "dead fur
rows about nine feet apart. In these
burrows the vines are planted eight feet
| apart, not very deeply. The after culti-
walton levels the land and covers the
roots deeper as the vines grow, and will
bear the deeper covering. One-year-
old vines are best for setting, as the root
system is better distributed, which is
important when the vines come to bear.
In the fall, if the land is not very rich,
manure should be applied near the
vines, and the ground plowed, throwing
the burrows toward and against the
vines. This puts them in the best pos
slble shape TO pass the winter in safety.
In the spring, or in the open weather
IN winter, the vines should be cut back
so that there will be only two or three
strong buds LETT 10 produce the next
seasons wood. The cultivation during
the second season should be sufficient
to Keep the ground mellow and free
from weeds. In using the gang-ploW IN
the spring the burrows should be thrown
away from the vines. The after culture
is done with a good cultivator.
During the second season the posts
can De set for the trellis wires, if conve-
nlent, but it is not imperative, as the
vines will do quite as we'll running over
the ground. If the posts are set, one
wire should be stretched about eighteen
inches from the ground, and the vines
should be encouraged to cling to this
wire, which keeps them out of the way
of the pillow and cult1vator. At the end
of the second years growth, the vines
should be pruned 50 that few bearing
shoots can be allowed to grow the third
season. besides two or three thrifty
canes for the next years fruiting. In
the spring of the third year the canes
lett to produce bearing shoots should be
tied to the wires, q second wire being
needed this year. Irvine is used by
many, although those who have the On
prefer osier- willow shoots for tying and
as permitting more rapid work and not
slipping on the wires like Irvine. After
this year three wires are needed to sup
port IFS growth improper shape, to ex-
pose the fruit as much as possible to
sunshine and winds. Growers general
~ ~ OhO f1uCo, dlCCI Ullcy dIS vi lul1
size. to forty or fifty buds for bearing
wood. Too much bearing wood causes
late ripening and failure of crop the
next year.
The cost of setting a vineyard and
bringing it to bearing was shown to be
from $50 to $50 per acre. The Concord
for its seedlings, the Moore's Early,
Worden, and Packlington are the favor
lite sorts to grow for market, though a
good many Niagaras are grown, espe-
cialIy in Portland. Brighton is increas-
ing in favor, and Meyer and Eaton are
promising sorts. Concords grow on
young vines on rich soils, fall from the
stems in shipping and handling, but as
the vines attain age this trouble van
ishes. The white Packlington is an ex-
cellent shipper, even when from young
vines, and sells we'll. So does the Wor-
den, which averages 3 cents per pound
more in the market than the Concord.
This sort must be shipped as soon as
ripe. The others do not lose flavor by
keeping. Brighton also sells for higher
prices than the Concord, but does not
bear as uniformly we'll on all soils. The
Mover looks like the Delaware, and,
like it, is of better quality than most Of
the grapes named, but it has not been
tested enough to ascertain whether it is
suitable for general cultivation as q
market grape. 1t is earlier than any of
the others named.