THE ESSENTIALS OF GRAPE GROWING. 291 



THE ESSENTIALS OF GRAPE GROWING. 



E. F. STEPHENS, CRETE, NEB. 



The grape is probably the oldest of domesticated fruits. Doubtless 

 wine was made from it before it was even brought into cultivation; and 

 we read that its product was in use in Noah's time. The fruit is so easily 

 grown in Nebraska that we cannot but think that one reason it is not 

 found in abundance on every farm is because many people believe it 

 requires more than ordinary skill to cultivate. Frequently those who 

 have planted a dozen vines as an experiment have not known the best 

 methods of setting and pruning. Probably three-fourths of the grape vines 

 planted so far and lost have been lost through lack of winter protection. 

 Our habit is to plow the ground in narrow lands, bringing the dead 

 furrows eight to nine feet apart. We then loosen the soil to a consider- 

 able depth by subsoiling, after which we disc and harrow to put the soil 

 in fine tilth. By using as much team work as possible in the preparation 

 of the soil, the manual labor is lessened to a marked degree. A suitable 

 distance for planting a vineyard is eight to nine feet, which gives 605 

 plants to the acre. We suggest nine feet as the width between the rows 

 in order that it may be convenient to drive In with a hay rack and apply 

 straw for winter covering. 



Vines should be planted six to eight inches below the general level of 

 the soil. Subsequent cultivation during the season will result in cover- 

 ing them perhaps them perhaps eight inches deeper than they grew in 

 the nursery row. The previous subsoiling allows the roots to run freely, 

 conserves moisture, and enables the vine to make a vigorous growth the 

 first year. If holes are dug by hand without team work, they should be 

 two feet deep and thirty inches across, to give the roots an abundance 

 of room. Any common fertilizer, such as bones, put in the hole, will give 

 the best results; and an abundance of ashes should be applied on the 

 surface of the ground. Posts should be eight feet in length and stand 

 five and one-half feet above the ground. If trained to this height, on 

 at least two wires, the vines will have suflBcient light and air. Use strong 

 heavy posts at the ends of rows. Lighter ones may be put between. 

 Number nine or ten wire gives the best results. 



Cultivation should be often enough to keep the surface loose and 

 mellow, and should be continued until mid-August in the young vineyard. 

 The latter can be cultivated by horse power; whereas one seldom takes 

 enough time with a few vines to insure success. Where only a few vines 

 are desired, however, they may be planted close to the walls of buildings 

 and trained to good advantage. They appreciate the south side, and, as a 

 rule, the hotter the weather the better the grape. 



In marketing our grape crop, we use what is known as the eight 

 pound basket, which holds when carefully packed about seven pounds. 



