326 The Vineyards of Vincland. 



Mr. Parsons, mentioned above, made his first planting, of two hun- 

 di^ed and fifty vines, in the spring of 1863. The second season there- 

 after, 1865, these vines bore an average of about six pounds each, his 

 sales returning him one dollar per vine. It was too good a crop, as 

 one might suppose ; for the next year they gave only about half as 

 much, and rather moderate crops in 1867 and 1868. But last year they 

 bore heavily, averaging twenty pounds per vine. In 1S65 he planted 

 two hundred and fifty more vines, and the total amount in 1869, from 

 these and those first planted, reached eight thousand pounds. This 

 was additional to what he used in the family, made into wine, and gave 

 to friends. He is testing three different systems of training — the fan 

 system on the common trellis (Husmann's, I think), the low trellis 

 system, recommended by Mr. W. C. Strong in his work on grape cul- 

 ture, and that of the arbor ^ a system which I think originated here, by 

 Mr. J. L. Carpenter. It consists of posts seven feet high, standing 

 nearly or quite on the surface of the ground, but connected very firmly 

 above by poles and braces, so that only a hurricane or time can bring 

 it to the ground. It has two important advantages over most other 

 plans : one in admitting of horse cultivation in every direction, thus 

 economizing labor ; and, second, in allowing the vine any amount of 

 expansion overhead — which certainly ought to satisfy those vineyard- 

 ists who are so anxious to train the grape so that its natural disposi- 

 tion to roam shall not be repressed. On this system it can travel at its 

 own sweet will — at least until it reaches the outer line of the vine- 

 yard ; but, even then, if " Nature " isn't sufficiently humored by that 

 time, it can be turned back again, and sent around the vineyard. It is 

 not designed, however, to allow everything to grow overhead ; the 

 system contemplates such an amount of pruning as the owner may 

 deem necessary to health and profit. Along the uprights spurs are 

 grown, but above there is a chance to prune or not, as judgment, expe- 

 rience, or time may dictate. The artistic effect, when loaded with 

 fruit, is very fine ; but what will be the effect of a continual shading of 

 the ground through all the season of foliage, is questionable. One dis- 

 advantage will probably be, that of a stiff' neck to the party who gath- 

 ers the fruit, or who docs the pruning ; but possibly this will not be 



