Year: 1877

Quite change is taking place in the
minds of some of our grape growers in
reference to the use of manures or fertiIi-
zers for grapevines. This change of opin-
ion is much the same as that in respect to
pear culture, and l have no doubt that
beneficial results will follow in both cases.
A letter received by me last month from a
vineyardist Of Middle Bass Island, states
that the grape growers there have become
convinced that some system of manuring
or fertilizing needs to be adopted for the
renovation and continuous health of the
vines after few years of fruiting. They
have tried barnyard and hen manure in
small quantities with good results, but no
supply of these can be had tn re without
too much expense for transportation, hence
they are experimenting with superphos-
phate. This article, applied last spring,
did not seem to produce much effect that
season, but it may be more visible this
year. They will experiment farther with
it, and would like to hear from those who
have tried it elsewhere. They find some
benefit from blowing in the trimmings of
the vines made at the winter trimming,
after being cut in pieces of to 10 inches
long; but this is perhaps mainly mechani-
cal letting more air into the clay soil
They also think that considerable fertiliz-
ing effect results from the use of land plas-
ter, mixed with the sulphur, busted over
the vines several times during the summer
as Il preventive of mildew.


In answer to this letter, l wrote that
had experimental with superphosphate in
my own vineyard the past season, applied
early in the spring, and l was convinced
there was some gain IN the healthier
growth of the vines, and on examining
some of the roots this spring, found that
in the burrows where the fertilizer had
been applied there was an increase of f.
brous roots, so that better growth will no
doubt be seen this season. | have there
fore applied superphosphate to all my
vines this spring as well as to my pear
trees.


The owner of a large vineyard on Kel-
ley's Island also writes me that he thinks
some kind of fertilizing necessary. He is
experimenting with bone dust, superphos-
phate, land plaster and charcoal, and he
promises to inform me OF the results, if
perceptible next fall. He also is an advo-
cate of the use Of sulphur and plaster dur
ing summer, and has given me some facts
and instructions on the subject which
will furnish. On the use of charcoal, he
says neighbor of his had a large grape
vine growing not far from an old cistern
which had filtering apartment filled with
charcoal; and root OF the vine, having
found its way into that charcoal, filled the
entire mass with its ramitieatiOns; the ef-
feet on the growth and produetiveness of
the vine was quite remarkable. He in
tends therefore to try some experiments
with powdered charcoal as a fertilizer. 1t
is probable however that in the case of the
cistern, the charcoal was saturated with
fertilizing ingredients filtered from rain
water, and hence comparatively little bene-
fit may result from the applications Of Char
COAL unless mixed with richer ingredients.
Saturating it with water in which hen ma
nure is dissolved would no doubt be quite
effective.


In Southern Ohio, the rotting of the
fruit has been very disastrous to grape
crops, and a writer of the Cincinnati Ga
zette last season, stated that he had found
great benefit from the application of stable
manure plowed in between the rows of
vines. If this should meet his eye, | wish
he would favor us with the particulars,
stating the age and kind of vines, ehsrac-
ter Of soil, amount and kind of manure,
&c.


Other persons who have made or witness
ed experiments in this line are also request
ed to communicate the results to the pub
lie, as it is a subject Of much practical i'm
portance II. B. b. iR C. Gent.