276 



The Grape Culturist, 



benefiting the fruitful l)uds, and tliose wliidi 

 are to extend the 1>ranches of the stump. 



iNTEK-cui.TURE. — Tlie practice of raising 

 various crops among the vines, although very 

 tempting in the trailing chain system, has 1>een 

 entirely discarded. It has been demonstrated 

 that the proximity of cereals or grasses expose; 

 the flower to lilight, whilst tlie sod and filn'ous 

 roots are highly detrimental to the vines, and 

 impart to the fruit additional acidity. The 

 grape requires a denuded surface around it, 

 always proportioned to its extension. 



We have read the above with a great 

 deal of interest, and copied it, not be- 

 cause we think its application probable 

 in our country and climate, but that 

 we thought it well to biiiig all modes 

 of culture before our readers, and show 

 them wdiy we advocate our present 

 trellis system, and think it the only 

 practicable and profitable plan. Some 

 of the most important features of 

 American grape culture, which are 

 indisputable, and must always be kept 

 in mind, are: 1, the freest circulation 

 of air, to prevent mildew, rot, and all 

 other diseases ; 2, easy access to all 

 parts of the vine ; 3, shading the fruit 

 while ripening ; 4, clean culture. 



Now% let us see how these could be 

 attained by the trailing chain sys- 

 tem. 



According to this s^'stem^ the vines 

 are rested and drawn over pegs and 

 forks about eighteen inches from the 

 ground. thus covering the whole ground, 

 and the fruit hanging near it. Any one 

 at all familiar with our climate and the 

 diseases of the vines, will see at a 

 glance that they would form such an 

 impervious mass of foliage, that the 

 air would be entirely excluded. Mil- 

 dew would set in, followed by rot, and 

 we fear but little would be left of the 



crop. Nor can we see the great saving 

 of material and labor which is claimed 

 for it. It will take an immense amount 

 of these forks, or pegs, which, when the 

 vines are taken up and thrown on the 

 next row, must be taken up and set 

 again. Nor do we see how it would be 

 possible to have the necessary access to 

 all parts of the vine, for summer prun- 

 ing, or, as called in this article, heading 

 ort'. Imagine a Concord or Norton 

 thus spread upon the grotuid, and the 

 vintner picking his way among them. 

 "We venture to say he would soon 

 abandon it in despair ; and when he 

 would come to lift up his vines and 

 throw them back on the next row, he 

 would find that he had got hold of an 

 elephant which wouM be difficidt to 

 handle. 



Let those who would like to try this 

 plan remember that four to five plow- 

 ings and hoeings are necessary here in 

 a single summer, to keep down tlie 

 abundant growth of weeds. Every one 

 familiar with grape growing here will 

 remember the disastrous effect it has 

 upon the vines and fruit, if a bearing 

 cane is broken loose in the summer. 

 P^ven if tied up ever so promptly again, 

 the fruit and leaves are sure to suffer. 

 How would they fare if this whole net- 

 work had to be taken up, thrown back 

 on the next row, and returned to its 

 position when the ground has been 

 plowed? We do not know hovt- the}' 

 can manage this in France, but we do 

 know that here it would l)e utterly im- 

 practicable. "We warn our readers 

 against trying it on a large scale. 

 Should they be inclined to try it at all, 

 let it be with a few vines or an outside 

 row. We think it will fully satisfy 

 them. — Ed. 



