CULTIVATION OF TUE GUAPK. 



heart, costinji about twelve to fifteen dollar.s j»or thuusund. Locust stakes arc better 

 and vn^t about double that sum. 



The couimon practice is to have only a single stake to each vine; although some 

 very successful cultivators use two stakes with two " bows" to each vine. 



The "bow and spur" method of trimming is the most general method although 

 many prefer instead of bending the branch in the shape of a "]Jow" or circle, to 

 train each vine across to the next stake in the row. 



Mr. Robert IJuchanan, very kindly furnished nie with the yield in wine fmrn his 

 vineyards, as a basis to estimate the profit of the business. 1 think, huwever, that 

 most cultivators will fall nearly one-fourth short of this result. 



The estimate is from a very exact account kept of the produce of his Vineyard, 

 during the seven years 1848 — 1854, inclusive, and as follows : 



Jn 1848 from 2 .acres, 2()5 galls, per. acre. 



310 " " " 

 350 ." " " 

 175 " " " 

 340 «' " " 

 847 " " " 

 HO <' " " 



2427 



Being for the whole period an average of 346 galls, per acre, as the annual yield. 



The great enemy of the vintner here is the rof. Of this there are two kinds; 

 although some persons think there is but one, with a slight variation in its 

 manifestation. The first makes its appearance in the form of a spot of yellowish 

 brown upon the berry, and is called the "spot rot." This spot rapidly enlarges, so 

 that in twenty-four hours from its first appearance in a vineyard, one-half of the 

 crop is often blackened, and presents the appearance of having been for weeks 

 affected with decay. 



The other variety of this disease first shows a slight discoloration under the skin 

 of the berry, sometimes in veins or blotches, and has hence derived the name of 

 "blue rot." 



In the vineyard of 3Ir. Mottier, I saw a portion of his vines so affected by this 

 disease, that by slightly jarring the vine a shower of berries would fall to the 

 ground. 



All the searching and experimenting of the best vine growers, have failed thus 

 far to discover aught of its cause or remedy. Some have in despair given up the 

 attempt to make any discoveries in this direction, and are in hopes to escape the 

 difficulty by finding new varieties not subject to the disease. 



The mildew in some seasons affects the berries soon after the fruit is "set" and 

 presents the appearance of having meal sprinkled over the whole cluster. 



Both the rot and mildew when examined by a microscope, show a growth of 

 Fungi upon the surface of the berry, but whether this microscopic plant is the 

 cause or only the effect of the disease, is not yet a matter upon which the "Doctors" 

 asrree. 



