The Llano colonist. [volume] (Llano, Calif.) 191?-1937, 1922-09-09
PEACHES. GRAPES,
AND HORTICULTURE


tlvation Of peach trees and grape vines
more particularly, occupied the atten-
ton Of the agricultural class at Llano
Colony on Friday evening, September
l. A group consisting Of Comrades
Darth, Nash. Cess and oyer constitu-
ted itself to give its attention specifi-
cally to grape culture. Plans viii Be
made and location selected for a
permanent vineyard. Comrade Darth
had considerable experience with one
Of the most successful grape growers
in the famous Minnetonka section in
Minnesota and described in an Interest,"
ing manner the methods practiced BY
his employer in nurturing and pruning
the plants to obtain the superior re-
|sults that make the Minnetonka grape
the favorite in the market.
The wild grapes growing in the VI
entity of Llano are Of very fair size
and flavor. but the skin is rather tough
and bulky. It may be that by pollen
> = AVN H
izing the native grapevines with the
pollen from the choice varieties of the
North or California superior grape
may be obtained. From the American
Eagle, published at Estero. Fla. we
learn that at Eustis, in that state, an
English gardener named Masters, some
twenty years ago. pollenized wild
grape with Concord pollen and produc-
ed a very choice bunch grape. About
twelve years ago, Mr.. Frank w. Saw
age, the superintendent Of the Govern
ment Station at Eustis in crop physiol-
ogy and breeding Investigations, graft
ed a cutting from this vine on a root
ed growing cutting of a wild grape.
and in about eighteen months there
after he sold a hundred pounds Of
choice fruit from this single vine. in a
local market. This vine has yielded a
full crop every year since and has new
Eer been fertilized nor sprayed, nor re-
Iceived any attention except close prun-
ing during the dormant season, and is
growing in the upland. yellow sandy
soil common about Eustis. Many vines
have been grown by neighbors from the
Savage vine with like success and fruit
age.
The analogy Of the genesis Of this
adapted grape which we are exclusive
| ly planting in our vineyards to-day is
obvious because these new grapes also
are builded on the sure foundation of
one or another of the several species
of wild grape which have grown else
where in Florida time without mind.
and, like the Masters and Savage grape
they are hybrids, obtained by polleniz
ling domestic bunch grape on a suit
able wild grape. This practice is car
ried forward to cross polarization, and
to pollenizing one hybrid or another
until several crosses have been made,
and SO on, ad infinitum."
Many diseases that domesticated
grape vines seem to be afflicted with
have disappeared from the domes-
ticated wild grapes poIlenized from the
Idomesticated varieties. Perhaps this
may prove to be valuable suggestion
to our vineyard enthusiasts.
Peaches were also discussed from
various angles. Comrade Killing men
toned the fact that thru the ambition
Of one man the peach-growing indus
| try had been introduced in Connecti-
cut and had become valuable source
of income in that state. During late
years peaches have not thrived we'll IN
this section Of Louisiana. altho a few
years ago they were abundant. Lately
insects or starvation seems TO have ov-
ertaken the old orchards and no new
orchards have been planted. In order
that the peach tree may thrive it re-
quires its specific food substances, and
when these are not present or are ex-
hausted, It must succumb to this star
walton. The materials upon which a
tree feeds are derived from the soil
and from the air. The minute rool
hairs which spring from the rootlets
take up water from the ground and with
lit the various substances which it hold:
in solution. These are the mineral OF
earthly constituents Of the tree. which
,reappear in the form of ashes when
any part Of it is burned. The watel
which contains these materials goes
straight from the roots to the leaves
IN which most important process in
the feeding Of the tree takes place
The process is the assimilation or tax
ing up and breaking up. by the leaves
of carbonic acid gas from the air. Il
goes on only in the presence of light
and heat. and thru the action Of chic
rophyll, substance from which the