Decorah-posten., 1897-12-24

III CCIidlu IOlSiSh SOuh
tries the use of the grape has the
title of "the grape cure;;" each
patient eating several pounds of
grapes per day. and gaining both
strength and flesh as a result OF
such diet
WHERE TO GROW THEM.
The vine may grow fairly in
almost any soil, but does not
flourish unless the ground is well
drained, sandy loan, well enriched
With old, well-rotted fertilizer. 1t
requires water, though that should
be supplied from the surface,
rather from the sub-soil. The
situation should be fully exposed
to the sun and a free circulation
of air. 1t should be sheltered, if
sheltered at all, from the north
and west winds, which are liable
to cause ~blighting of the young
fruit.
MIND III CkON, AMI Nhh'
An important factor is the va
riety to be planted and the length
OF time required to grow and ripen
both fruit and cane. The season
of 1901 should not be taken to
guide these decisions, when three
weeks of October passed without
the tenderest plant being injured
by the frost. 1t is safe to say that
any grape which requires any
portion of October to rlpen its
fruit in this northwestern section
should be discarded.
In the average year we have
frosts by Sept. 25. The fruit will
seldom improve after the foliage
has been chilled. If lett on the
vine to absorb the frozen sap, the
fruit will lose it's original character,
become flat and tasteless, and will
decay in a short time. Any vine
that does not ripen its wood in
September will run the risk of
being winter-killed, and should be
discarded, or simply tested as an
experiment. If one has a we'll
sheltered location, and is willing
to take the Vines down from the
trelliS in the autumn, (Which has
to be done with all good grapes
in this section) cover them with
some coarse, loose material, and
put them back each spring, he
may succeed with even a fairly
tender grape.
The great majority of grape
growers raise grapes for their
own consumption, and not for
market hence the first considera-
ton is quality and early ripening.
The first vine selected by me
would be "Moore's Early" which
possesses all the good qualities
required. Second, the Hartford
whose greatest fault is dropping
This can be in a great measure
prevented by free irrigation while
the fruit is ripening. This irriga.
ton will also improve the size anc
quality of the fruit. Third
Brighton" one of the finest fla
vored grapes we have that vii
ripen in September. Fourth, "Con
cord" a good grape, hardy anc
prolific, yet often overtaken by tn,
frost before its fruit is we'll ripened
therefore uncertain. The plantin!
Of the "Worden,' as a superio
grape to he"Concord," and ripen
ing a week earlier, is strongly ad
vised. The Niagara has no
given satisfaction to It's patron
and cultivators in this section
Neither has the "Pocklington
l done as well as was expected of il
Our average season is too shor
for the last two varieties.
OF all the Rogers thirty cd,
varieties, No a (Wilder) stands a
, the head, and is worthy of cult
! walton. Most OF the Rogers va
: ~rieties appear to blight, and ar
S prone TO take on all the fashion
able vine diseases. If you hav
< room for only two vines, plant
"Moore's Early" and a "Worden.
) THINNING OUT FRUIT EARLY.
, Thinning the fruit requires coul
/. age. Take your clippers and G
through the vines, and cut out a
the small and imperfect bunche!
sometimes even to one-third G
one-half the number OF bunche
set. By this method you wi
grow larger and finer clusters an
, more pounds of them.
Careful cultivators bag the bes
punches. When the grapes ar
, about half grown they slip a com
mon grocer's paper sack over tn
bunch they want to protect, an
bind around the vine on both side
of the stem. This keeps it FIRE
from dust and many insect pest:
/ Though this method may retar,
: the ripening for a week or so, We
the frost that would cut the foliag
| would not harm grapes thus pro
tected.
, Another method to improve tn
| fruit is to grow as little wood a
| possible. When a cane has at
, tanned the length you desire, Mi
it in. Go over the vines ever,
r week or SO, nipping any struggling