ARBOR DAY. 63 



PLANT GRAPES ON ARBOR DAY. 

 BY HON. SILAS WILSON, ATLANTIC, IOWA. 



I desire to offer a few suggestions to the readers of the 

 Prairie Farmer, while Arbor Day is attracting more or 

 less attention. It seems to me to be a good time to 

 urge the planting of vineyards. Every family in the 

 country not already supplied should plant this vineyard 

 on Arbor Day. A family vineyard should contain from 

 100 to 200 vines, according to the number to be supplied. 

 Very early and late varieties should be planted in order to 

 make the grape season last as long as possible. Such a 

 vineyard should supply grapes enough of suitable kinds 

 for at least two months. I would recommend planting for 

 early : Moore's Early, Worden, Telegraph, Cottage, Lady, 

 and Janesville. For late : Pocklington, Elvira, and Con- 

 cord. For good keeping varieties : Agawam, Rogers' No. 

 15, and Delaware. Plant all vines deep, fifteen to twenty 

 inches, and give clean culture. Cut back the first year 

 to eight or ten inches, the second year to twenty or thirty 

 inches, the third year to three or four feet, etc. Always 

 prune in the fall after leaves drop; and lay down and 

 give them winter protection, by covering with earth four 

 or five inches deep. Let them remain covered until all 

 danger of freezing is past in spring, then tie the vines up 

 to wire or stakes, as suits your convenience. If this plan 



