34 



The Grape Culturist. 



THE CUNNINGHAM GEAPE. 



By the Editor. 



Origin somewhat doubtful at pre- 

 sent, but our valued correspondent, 

 Col. Werth, has promised to send us 

 an article on its origin and early his- 

 tory, which we shall be happy to pub- 

 lish in due time. It belongs to the 

 8ame class as the Herbemont, Lenoir, 

 and many others peculiar to the Sou- 

 thern States, and which we believe 

 are either a division of the Aestivalis, 

 peculiar to the Southern States, or 

 hybrids of the Aestivalis and Yini- 

 fera. 



Bunch, compact and heavy, medium, 

 shouldered; berry small, brownish 

 black, juicy and vinous ; free from 

 disease; vine a strong grower, healthy, 

 but requires slight winter protection. 



Especially adapted to our southern 

 hillsides, as it seems to revel in light 

 limestone soil; ripens its fruit late, 

 but makes one of the most aromatic 

 and delightful Aviiics we have, resem- 

 bling some of the finest Hungarian 

 wines . Specific gravity of must, from 

 90 to 112°, according to the season. 



The Cunningham grape is worthy 

 of much more general attention than 

 it has received so far, es2:)eciall3' for 

 our Southern States. An acquain- 

 tance of over 12 years with this va- 

 riety, enables us to speak knowinglj', 

 when we recommend it for general 

 trial in southern locations, and lime- 

 stone soils. 



THE YINEYAED. 



WORK FOR THE MONTH. 



February, that month of transition, 

 of changeable weather, is a trying 

 season for the vintner, at least for us 

 here. For our Southern friends, we 

 suppose it is the season for planting, 

 we here can ver}'- seldom think of it 

 before March, and our Northern 

 friends will be still later. .We hope 

 that both, North and South, will make 

 due allowance for the difference in lo- 

 cation, when they scan our work for 

 the month, and freely give us their 

 experience, for the benefit of their 

 neighbours. 



Preparing the ground for spring- 

 plan ting may still be continued, as well 

 as clearing, making trellis, etc. Should 



the ground be open and dry enough, 

 it may be plowed, so that it can still 

 have the benefit of decomposition by 

 frost. For old ground, take a common 

 two horse plow, with a good span of 

 strong horses or cattle, and plow as 

 I deep as you can get with it. This may 

 be followed by what we call the sub- 

 soil stirrer. We have used those man- 

 ufactured by John Deere, Moline, 111., 

 with great satisfaction. It will gene- 

 rally require four horses, or two yoke 

 of oxen, at" the subsoil .plow, to get 

 deep enough, say 16 — 20 inches. The 

 old practice of trenching with the 

 spade to the depth of 2—3 feet and 

 reversing the soil, is now, we think, 



