The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-06-04

roots of dry saw palmetto well chopped into
pieces. This is all the preparation needed to in
sure steady and rapid growth.
The vines are planted ten feet apart each way,
that is ten feet in the rows and ten feet between
vines. The supports in the rows are thirty feet
apart with, consequently, three vines between
each. These supports stout pieces of scant-
ling-termed by carpenters-3x3 feet long.
They are sunk two and a half feet in the ground
and rise four and half above it. Two endless
wires stretched along this line of supports
the first are two feet from the ground and the
next at the same distance from the one below it.
This is No. II steel wire and will cost about SIS
per acre.
The proper time to commence planting is about
the middle of January and from that time to the
middle of April, but not later than May, or lack
of success is almost inevitable.
In due time the new shoots from the settings
are tied carefully to the first line of wire, and
when their subsequent growth requires it, to the
second Finally, excessively severe
pruning puts the vines in the best bearing condi-
tion and it was this process that saw in oper-
alton in the vineyard of this firm the first day
of the present year. 1t is this speciality Of
PRUNING
that is, probably, the most important operation
of all-for on it's proper performance hinges
sentially the desired measure OF success. The alb
sence of skill here means failure. The pruning
shears goes through vines from one and quar-
ter inches thick, cutting off forty or fifty feet OF
vine in order to leave but three three and
half feet to each vine. To the unnitiated it looks
like total destruction of it. Nine tenths of it
are gOne-but the one-tenth that remains tells
the tale of an abundant crop.
THE WHITE NIAGARA
grape, so far experimental tests have yet decid-
ed, is far ahead of any other variety yet pro-
duced or rather grown in Florida. Both as to
quantity and quality it looms up like giant
among pigmies. This is simply the opinion of
the writer-Others may look at the matter in
different light Its appearance in bunch form is
fine, and it is notable for it's excellent carrying
qualities.
At three years from planting an acre should
average from three and half to four tons, and
at FIVE years be in full bearing. The yield, in net
profit, at the end of the former period. will reach
$1,000 per acre; and at present five years. $4,000
per acre or $500 to the ton-with, say four tons
to the acre. for these grapes the firm get 80 cents
per pound in New York.
This, they have actually DONE on the Oldest
portion of their vineyardone and three-ifth acres
Let us suppose however, that result of in
creased production, grapes should fall to onehalf
the above rates, to fifteen cents per pound.
Still, they would pay 81, 1000 per acre. 1t is
to the foregoing figures, though some allowance
must be made for the fact that the firm has an
established reputation for their brand that ena-
bes them to sell it somewhat higher prices than
the ordinary grower. That, certainly, should
have it's due weight in the consideration of the
matter.
If it be objected that the prices given above
cannot be realized-NOrthern grown grapes
bringing often but eight and ten cents per pound
and sometimes falling to fve-let it be remember
ed that Florida puts her grapes the market
when there is no competition domestic or foreign
and that the area of production, at such season
is very limited
QUALITY OF SOIL.
The soil in which these grapes are planted is |
denomnated 'table land by the firm, but it is |
closely akin to our ordinary low pine iatwoods. |
with the difference that while the water stands in
rainy seasons on the latter, it readily drains |
away on the former, but very large proportion |
three four inches below the surface of the |
ground, and held therein suspension so to speak |
for fully three months in all of which time there
was no rain OF any account. The moist ground