54 



The Grape Culturist. 



spondent gave forth how to grow 

 vines from single e3-es, and to gain ton 

 years thereby over the usual wa}', I 

 tiiought my communication would be 

 unnecessary. Now, Mr. Editor, j-ou 

 ought to explain how this marvelous 

 operation is to be performed, for it is 

 expected you know all f/u'/if/.s pertaining 

 to these mattei's. 



But suppose that you fail to enlighten 

 us on that subject, them my powder 

 may not be burnt in vain. 



I simpl}" mean to go to work and 

 graft them m the rows as 3-ou would 

 trees. 



Follow the usual diiections as to 

 depth of performing the operation, and 

 when the grafts have grown a foot or 

 more, draw the earth up around the 

 graft a few inches, which will cause 

 roots to start from the graft, thereby 

 increasing their growth, and as it 

 were, helping to establish a foundation 

 of its own. 



To guard somewhat against the 

 suckers which in this case are always 

 troublesome ; it is well to remove the 

 earth low enough down on the stocks 

 so as to have a chance to gouge out 

 the dormant eye below where the graft 

 is to be inserted. 



To those who la}' in cuttings the 

 coming spring for this purpose a year 

 or two hence, I would advise them to 

 cut out al! the eyes except the upper 

 one, which is to grow. This will save 

 a deal of trouble when grafted, as the 

 removal of suckers is much more 

 trouble than the grafting. 



I helped take up a lot of vines one 

 year old, the cuttings of which had 

 been treated in the above waj', which 

 were as well rooted as any vines I ever 

 saw of the same age. 



Cuttings intended for grafting upon, 

 should not be planted nearer than four 

 inches, if to graft in one year there- 

 after ; and if intended to be left until 

 the second, the}- should be put six 

 inches apart. The idea that grafted 

 vines are short liveil, as some of the 

 savans tried to make us believe a few 

 years agO/ is all moonshine. 



Even though the root be not a suita- 

 ble one at time^, the graft is easily 

 made self-supporting. 



Then again some varieties can be 

 improved in vigor and health by being 

 grafted on strong and hardy growers. 

 The time is not distant when we will 

 see this mode in general use, just as 

 they now graft apple, pear, plum, &c. 

 Yours truly, S. Miller. 



Bi.CFFTON", January '21, 1870. 



[The communication of our friend is, 

 as usual, well timed and practical, and 

 his hints very useful. "We do not pre- 

 tend to " know all things," as he ex- 

 presses it, but we hope to get wise by 

 just such and similar communications. 

 — Editor.] 



Council Bliffs, Iowa, .lauuary in, \>'0 



Mr. Husmanx : 



Dear Sir : I have your book on 

 grape and wine, and by its advice have 

 erected me a nice two story cellar with 

 press-house over it, and obtained a one 

 hundred dollar press, made at Belle- 

 ville, 111., and got a lot of new casks 

 made, and have made 400 gallons of 

 wines, (now just packed off) as clear as 

 old Bourbon whisky, and colored very 

 much like it. Many of our best judges 

 have tried it and pronounce it No. 1. 

 Many Germans say it is equal to their 

 best German wines. I have light red 

 and dark red also, the dark red being 



