238 



Tlie Grape Culturisf, 



plant them also with some of the 

 Martha for a white grape. The sooner 

 in the fall, after leaves have fallen 

 and the wood growth matured, that 

 vines are planted the better; but suc- 

 cessful planting may be continued in 

 Arkansas throughout the winter, un- 

 til the buds put forth in spring. 

 Yinos from northern Missouri, which 

 have not started, may be set out here 

 even the last of April. We have 

 really no spring and fall seasons for 

 transplanting as they have at the 

 north ; there the ground becomes 

 frozen in winter and transplanting 

 cannot be done until it thaws in 

 spring. Meanwhile trees and vines 

 which may have been transplanted in 

 autumn remain entirely dormant. 

 The question arises there, whether 

 spring or fall planting is best, and is 

 much discussed, without result, as one 

 would suppose, since, in the nature of 

 things, it can really make but little 

 difference. We are under different 

 circumstances. Our warm winters 

 keep the ground continually open, ex- 

 cept now and then a slight crust for a 

 few days, easily broken through. 

 We may set out trees when we please, 

 without any distinction of spring or 

 fall. There is only this difference, in 

 our climate the roots of vines are 

 never wholly dormant, but grow a 

 little during the warm spells. Hence, 

 vines transplanted eai'ly in winter get 

 better established and take a more 

 vigorous start next spring, than those 

 freshl}' set out ; they have small roots 

 to begin upon ; hence the earlier the 

 better, but still the planting may 

 continue until vegetation begins in 

 the wood. On the other hand, im- 

 mature roots are injured by trans- 



planting and it is not well to begin 

 too early in the fall. Even the mid- 

 dle of November, for home grown 

 plants, may be too early, if the fall 

 has been late. Whereas plants from 

 northern nurseries Avill have, by that 

 time, certainly ceased growth, and be 

 in order. It is simply a matter of 

 judgment. In ordering jilants from 

 the Missouri nurseries it is best to get 

 them and transplant before the cold 

 weather of December — beginning in 

 October if ready. With home grown 

 plants I would think it best not to 

 begin earlier than the first of Decem- 

 ber, and to continue all winter if ne- 

 cessary. This gives us the advantage 

 of time for thorough preparation of 

 the ground. 



The question of distances arises at 

 the time of planting. I am thoroughly 

 satisfied that the grape growers of 

 America, misled by the German im- 

 migrants, have been all the time in 

 error in this matter. This is not 

 Germany, nor are our vines of the 

 class of European vines. We had 

 much better have taken advantage of 

 the south of Europe ; vine growing 

 would have been much further ad- 

 vanced, and many disappointments 

 avoided. We pruned too severely, 

 and gave too little room. I am satis- 

 fied that not only more but finer aud 

 healthier fruit is produced here by 

 ample room and long pruning. I can 

 take any one into my experimental 

 vine3'ard to-day and point this out, 

 showing marked differences of fruit 

 on vines differently pruned. Those 

 branches on short spurs near the old 

 stock are much more dwarfish and 

 subject to rot than those growing up- 

 on long canes trained high, with 



