420 ANNUAL REPORT 



But few of our farmers have the lakes, rivers or other bodies of 

 water, or even hillsides convenient at hand, therefore they should 

 make the nearest approach to the latter condition that circumstances 

 will permit. For setting a few vines for his own use let t^e farmer 

 select the highest ground in his garden, and if it is not sheltered upon 

 the north by a wall, fence, hedge, building or a grove of timber, let 

 him improvise some other kind of shelter, if it be only two or three 

 rows of plum trees. 



In selecting the soil it is well to remember that a deep, warm, sandy 

 loam, rich enough to produce a good crop of corn, and having a sub- 

 soil that is not retentive of water, is about the best. Avoid deep, 

 moist, mucky soils if possible, because they tend to promote a rank 

 growth of pithy, immature wood, that is very likely to be killed by 

 the autumn frosts, and produce fruit only of an inferior quality. If 

 such soil must be used, let it be made as dry as possible by deep drain- 

 age and ridging. Stiff clay soils are not desirable, unless they are 

 thoroughly drained and deeply worked. Stony ground, where there 

 is soil enough to hold the roots, is excellent for the vine, and so rocky 

 that it cannot well be plowed may be profitably used for growing 

 grapes. It would be unwise to plant grape vines in the door yard by 

 digging a hole in the sod, just large enough to receive the roots, or 

 upon any new land until the sod had been broken up and rotted or 

 brought into suitable condition for growing farm crops. 



In the fall, before planting, the ground should be plowed or dug 

 over as deep as the holes for planting will be ibade. If the land is 

 comparatively new and reasonably good it is not best to use any fer- 

 tilizers at the time of setting, or for several years afterward, unless it 

 is vines instead of grapes that is wanted. If the soil is sandy or poor 

 and worn out, lime, ashes, bones or the carcasses of dead animals are 

 all useful to restore it to a normal condition. 



On the farm land is usually plenty and cheap, and therefore it is 

 good policy to give the vine plenty o^room. Rows ten or twelve feet 

 apart and the vines eight feet apart in the rows is a very good 

 distance. 



I consider the spring the best season for setting the vines, but it 

 may be done with safety in the fall if they are well covered with 

 mulch the following winter. Two-year-old plants grown from cut- 

 tings to a single cane and cut back to two or three eyes, or strong one- 

 year-old layers are considered to be the best to use. In setting, dig 

 the hoks large enough to receive all the roots without cramping or 

 crowding when spread out in a natural manner. Such plants, grown 



