Notes on " Causes of Failures in Grape Growing." 



33 



dom used in the preparation of vine- 

 j'ards, except in very tough clay or 

 stony soil, where the plow cannot be 

 used. And a further benefit, and a 

 ver}^ important one, resulted fi'om it : 

 in wet seasons we could summer prune 

 and tie, whenever there was a day of 

 fine weather between the showers, in- 

 stead of wading in the mud as our 

 neighbors had to do, which enabled us to 

 perform these important operations at 

 the proper time, and to keep well " up 

 with our work." 



Having demonstrated by actual ex- 

 perience that " our method" is a success, 

 WG would recapitulate a few conditions 

 of success : 



1. Have your ground well cleared 

 of all unnecessary'^ incumbrances, as 

 stumps, trees, stones, etc., to enable 

 you to plow thoroughly and well. 



2. Stir your soil thoroughly, and to 

 a uniform depth, so that the roots can 

 penetrate at their pleasure, and not 



" seek it under difficulties." This will 

 also, in a measure, drain it. If you 

 can plow in fall so much the better, as 

 the action of the frost will make it 

 loose and friable. But leave it in its 

 natural position. Of course, locations 

 with very tough clay subsoil can not 

 well be prepared with the plough ; but 

 we doubt whether they are well adapted 

 to the culture of the grape, even when 

 thoroughly trenched. 



3. Plant the right kind of plants — 

 strong, well-rooted one year old are the 

 best ; and do not plant deeper than nine 

 to twelve inches, spreading the roots 

 well. 



4. Cultivate thoroughly afterwards. 

 Do not think you have performed your 

 part when you have planted well, and 

 your vines can now take care of them- 

 selves. If you have done all this, and 

 your location is a good one, you may 

 be confident of success. 



Editor. 



NOTES ON ^^ CAUSES OF FAILTJEES IN GEAPE GROWING.' 



Mr. Editor: 



Our mutual friend G. G. (in the 

 December number of the Grape Cul- 

 turist) "ventilates" a part of mj' essay 

 under the above title, and gives vent 

 to his indignation at my warning ex- 

 ample, Mr. S., who had spent ten thou- 

 sand dollars without coming near 

 reaching success, and therefore, in 

 his opinion ''knew just enough to 

 hitch the horse behind the car." 



Although I had simply and clearly 

 endeavored to show that the mere 

 cost "per acre," of prepai-ing the 

 ground, planting, trellissing, etc., of 



a vineyard, does not form a sufficient 

 basis of calculation for the capital re- 

 quired, "unless you have already paid 

 for the land, built your house, made 

 your fences, etc. ; although I had 

 quite distinctly endeavored to warn 

 "persons accustomed to different 

 pursuits " who have heard that grape- 

 growing was "a, pleasant and profit- 

 able business" and may go into it 

 " with high expectations -/' although 

 I had expressly stated in my remarks 

 on this subject, that " experienced 

 farmers; men who are used to rough it, 

 who do most of the work themselves, 



