The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-11-23
eouthern Small Fruit Culture.
l1hAELOe
No. 9.

Southern Small Fruit Culture.
GRAPES.
No. 2.
While grapes can be made to do well on
most any kind of well drained soil, still
where there is a choice positive warm dry
uplands is much to be preferred The
higher the elevation the greatest success is
most likely to follow, This has been found
to be the case in the wine growing countries
of Europe, and results have showed the
same to be true in this country.
Some varieties of grapes do better on low
levels than others, the latter position bel ng
more favorable to rot and mildew than ele-
waited positions. No where in Georgia do
grapes give more satisfaction than in the
northern couuties-about Mt. Airy, for in
stance-where the elevation is from 200 to
1900 feet.
Experience has shown that they do we'll
enough where the elevation ranges from $50
to 400 feet. snd successful grape culture will
be carried on at much lower levels than
even 100 feet.
The scuppernong is partial to low lands,
but the most favorable locations for other
species are the hill tops and hill sides which,
50 great extent, are not appropriate for
hoed crops Dry. warm uplands, in the
shape Of plateaus, present suitable locations
for growing the vine.
1t is great mistake to think that the
southern climate is in any WY, unsuited
for grape growing. There are six species
of grapes native to the southern country.
1t is true that there are varieties that have
beea propagated from the one or the other
of these species that do not do well with US,
but there are among the several hundred
kinds large number that do perfectly well
in the south. Our climate of the cotton states
is not as superbly adapted to grape culture
as that of California to be sure Nor can
we grow corn or barley or wheat TO the
same satisfaction that the northwest can,
but that does not deter US from growing
these crops.
The average season In the south is one
free from untimely late or early frosts. 1t
is usually free from excessive moisture in
the summer and early autumn, and thus
far grapes have been free from any serious
disease in southern vineyards.
Grape growing can be overdone, and the
result may be that sale cannot be found for
the crop that is made oftentimes, but admit
ting this to be true, there is no reason why
every landowner should not have his little
vineyard for raising his own home supply of
this delightful fruit. 1t is not a difficult
matter to convert all surplus fruit into
wine or grape juice-not that many are
likely to make very excellent wIne-for this
is the ultimate result of extended grape cult
ure generally. The grape is one Of the
heathiest Of fruits, and oil classes Of per-
sons will come to use it freely when put
upon the market at reasonable prices. The
poor Of the sou ii cannot be very extensive
users OF grapes at 10 cents a pound.
We have no doubt that the time is not far
off when grapes will be retailed at one
third Of this price, and yet pay the growers
much more than cotton at 10 cents per
pound. A well-managed vineyard will
bring good results to the owner at ~ cents
per pound for large quantities.
Of the two methods of growing grapes
some think the trellis plan the best, while
Others as warmly advocate the single stake
plan 1t is q mere matter of taste or pref
erence Equal results can be obtained I'M
der either system. To the end of time,
probably. some will prefer one plan and
some the other.
In Europe it is quite common practice TO
observe the plan Of single stakes, having
vine set four feet apart each way. This
would allow little over 2. ZOO vines to the
acre, Such close planting as this has not
been followed to any extent in this country.
Seven or eight feet apart each way is, we
believe, more appropriate distance than
any much less than this. At eight feet
apart each way 1t would require nearly 700
plants to set an acre. Looking TO the per
manency of the vineyard and allowing for
the spread of the roots that must occur in
the course Of six or eight years this would
seem 10 be the maximum number TO occupy
an acre. Much the larger number of grow
efs DO not set near so many as this. Many
allow as much space as 100 or $50 square
teet to each vine, especially where the
trelils plan is adopted. With the stake plan,
while eight feet is permissible. perhaps ten
Ieet would prove better IN the end. 1t is
always better to err on the safe side. and
each vine had better to have little more
space than is actually needed, than not to
nave quite enough. Tapping OF the roots
SHOULD be guarded against. Rot and nildew
Is more apt to result where overcrowding is
permitted. Plenty Of air and sunlight is
essential to the perfect health Of the vine.
IN starting vineyard it is quite common
70 70 use temporary stakes thatwill last two or
.uree years. in the meantime putting up the
ielns as opportunity will allow, but where
Ine stake plan is to be permanent 1t is more
economical OF time to put in the posts OF
once' Six feet posts OF mulberry, chestnut
T or neart>pine of good size should be used.
Tue posts should be set in the ground TO
TTepth of eighteen or twenty-four inches,
t ~ tnese posts q single shoot should be
framed as soon as the plant begins to grow
atter being set out. When the vines get
ven wen established, say tn three or four years
lucy VIII support themselves without the
aiq Of post If properly managed
Win good sound posts and wire as cheap
as Is thestrellis need not be very costly,
a uu1 OF course it will COST considerably more
s1an simple posts. The trellis can be made
VI WOOD Stats. but the wire is more econom-
icsi In the end.
No. IA wire weighs over dftv feet to the
pound.
galvanized wire 10 to be preferred. but it
nos essential. Four wires will be suffl-
.eleht. the first twelve or fifteen inches from
1e ground; the second ten or twelve inches
higher. and the others twelve TO fifteen
Inches still higher