Pruning, Training, Etc. 



91 



spirit and determination with which 

 The Grape Culturist launches upon 

 another voyage. 



I have been much interested in the 

 matters discussed during the past year. 

 jVEuch genuine light has been dissem- 

 inated, and some old prejudices are 

 fading away before the results of the 

 experience of practical men. " Facts 

 are stubborn things," and they insist 

 upon teaching us that the European 

 modes of training and culture are not 

 adapted to our native varieties. I 

 think two things alread}" established, 

 which were not generally understood 

 a year ago: 1st. That the Labrusca 

 famil}' are not adapted to very dry 

 situations and southern exposures. 2d. 

 That we have generally planted too 

 closely and pruned too severol}'. I 

 think I shall never hereafter allow any 

 vine (except some very feebly growing- 

 varieties) less than ton feet of room 

 on a trellis. With regard to pruning, 

 either you, or one of your correspon- 

 dents, has hit the only practical ad- 

 vice. That is, to study and observe 

 closely the habits of each variety and 

 prune ^' judgmatic ally,'" so as to leave 

 each vine with as much as it can fairl}' 

 mature, considering the age of the 

 vine and the fertility of the soil, and 

 at the same time provide for sufficient 

 new wood for the coming 3'ear. It is 

 useful to understand theoretically and 

 practically the systems of pruning and 

 training practiced in Europe. From 

 the Europeans we may also learn much 

 of the botany of the vine. But they 

 are useful only as hints, not as guides. 

 Their practice may amuse us as ama- 

 teurs ; but for the more profitable re- 

 sults in vineyard culture, the American 

 system of training and pruning is yet 



an undeveloped science, if, indeed, it 

 ever can be reduced to rules. Study 

 nature, and use judgment, is all that 

 can be said. 



Are you acquainted with a grape 

 they have near Mobile, called "Le 

 Tardy s' Black Spanish " ? A friend 

 obtained some slips last spring, which 

 have grown with extraordinary vigor, 

 and show very fine short jointed wood. 

 Perhaps it is well known under some 

 sj'nonym. For myself, I am singu- 

 larly deficient in the power of distin- 

 guishing varieties by the wood alone, 

 where the characteristics are not verj' 

 marked. 



So far our winter has been remark- 

 ably mild. There has not been half 

 a dozen freezing days, and the ther- 

 mometer has not gone below about 25 

 deg. Fahrenheit. There are already 

 indications of spring. Our vines pro- 

 mise gloriously. The frost cut off a 

 portion of the crop last spring, and 

 they made more than usual of fresh, 

 sound wood, which is entirely clear of 

 mildew. Missouri has a proud posi- 

 tion in the United States for grape- 

 culture. She deserves it. But when 

 our government becomes settled, she 

 must look to her laurels. 



Respectfully, Jno. E. Eakin. 



[Thanks for your kind wishes and 

 appreciation of our eiforts. We shall 

 try to deserve them, and hope if such 

 kindly and enthusiastic spirits as 

 your's will continue to assist us, that 

 The Grape Culturist will continue 

 to " shed ligh c " upon some of the most 

 important questions. We do not know 

 the grape you name, at least by that 

 appellation. Can you advise us where 

 to obtain it ? We like to try all and 

 every thing in the grape line. — Ed.] 



