The Monett times., 1921-05-27
TIMELY IMPORTATION ON
GRAPE CULTURE

Iae Welch Grape Juice Company
! onnounces that they will have pub
lished series of discussions on grape
! culture. These articles will appear
from time to time in the Newspapers
Of Northwest Arkansas and South,
vest Missouri and are to be supple
mented by pamphlets which will be
sent out to a mailing list of fruit
growers.
In order to satisfactorily meet local
conditions the information given out
is being compiled by grape men of
New York with the advice and as
sistance of the Horticultural Depart
ment of the University of Arkansas.
Vineyard Cultivation.
Cultivation of the vineyard the first
and second years after setting can
not be over emphasized. This is
especially true the first season when
the young root is establishing itself.
If the vineyard is not cultivated
thoroughly and deep, the soil packs
down and can never be made to pro-
duce as it would if the first seasons
cultivation had been carried out
properly.
We come in contact with many
grape growers who admit that they
did not cultivate and properly care
for them the first and second years.
The first year the plants is forming
the basis of its permanent root system
and if the ground is not kept open
and loose so that this can be at some
distance below the surface the vine
will work out of the ground inside of
a few years.
Air is as necessary for root as it is
for leaf growth and cultivation is the
method for keeping the right air sup
ply in the soil. Cultivation makes
plant food available and helps con-
serve soil moisture.
During the season of 1919 an eX-
animation of numerous vineyards
showed that independent of the sys-
tenn of fertilization Tacticed, the
pest Vineyards were those that were
cultivated. Every fruit grow
sr knows the importance of having
1itrates present in his soils during
he growing season. Cultivation
stimulates nitrate production by
,acteria. We are growing vineyards
md not weeds. Lack Of cultivation
uts down moisture and plant food
nd allows weeds to compete for the
United supply Of food all of which
needed by the vine.
Deep cultivation is necessary where
nter-cropping is practiced. Thorough,
eep cultivation should be given and
he soil worked to fine mulch before
he grapes are planted.
Don't plant too close to the grape
ines. One row of tomatoes, canta-
oupes, or sweet potatoes to each
liddle is all that should be allowed.
Where such crops as Irish potatoes
r beans are used, two rows may be
lanted. Thorough, deep cultivation
aould continue as long as moistne is
lentiful. This is especially true of
le land along the grape rows. The
ortion Of land occupied by inter-
,ops should receive just as deep
as the crop grown will EI
ermit.
Deep cultivation should cease with
le advent Of dry weather. Shallow
iltivation should, however, be con-
nued in order to preserve soil mulch
eep cultivation under drouth con-
itions wastes soil moisture. There IE
no definite number Of civilizations
hich can be recommended. The
iaracter Of the soil and the amount
! rainfall must determine the nuns
en- of cultivations. One Nineyartl
Iay be kept in good condition by five
Invitations, while another may re-
lire as many as ten. Cultivation
lould be given at least after each
lin, and as much oftener as is neces-
ary to keep the soil in good con-
tion.