S8 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



CULTIVATIOII OF THE GEAPE-No. 1. 



EniTORs Gkxksee Fakxter : — Grape-culture is 

 at tliis time attracting a large share of public at- 

 tention. Not only amateurs and professional fruit 

 {growers, but fanners, also, arc devoting much time, 

 labor and capital to the cultivation of grapes, not 

 only for table use, but also for wine. Tiie trial of 

 the newer varieties is prosecuted with a care and 

 zeal that argues well for the future of this most 

 luscious, certain and remunerative of all fruits. 



The almost fabulous prices at which some of the 

 nower and better sorts are selling, as well as the 

 profits of the crop, as reported at the last session 

 of the " Fruit Growers' Society of "Western Now 

 York" — varying from five hundred to fifteen hun- 

 dred dollars per acre — are inducing many, and some 

 hitherto only amateurs, to plant with an eye to 

 profit ; a result at which I feel sure they will arrive, 

 if they never sell a vine or a pound of fruit. 



As you desire a series of articles upon the " Cul- 

 ture of the Grape," I offer you the substance of an 

 article on that subject publishecl in your Rural An- 

 nual lor 1858, to which I propose adding a few 

 explanatory cuts ; the whole to be succeeded by a 

 doacriptiou of the most desirable of the newer va- 

 rieties of grape worthy the attention of cultivators. 



In the successful cultivation of the grape, the 

 first points to be considered are 



SOir^ SITUATION, AND EXPOSURE. 



Perhaps it is needless to say that the best site 

 for a vineyard is the south side of a hill, where the 

 vines at mid-day will be fully exposed to the full 

 influence of the sun. Tliere the vines will get the 

 proper sunshine and light so necessary to the full 

 and healthy development of leaves and fruit. They 

 will there be sheltered from the chilling north-east 

 winds sometimes so prevalent in spring and early 

 eummer, and very liable to bring mildew to the 

 young and swelling fruit in the month of July. A 

 Bouth-eastern exposure is also good, because it re- 

 ceives the sun pretty early in the morning, and is 

 exposed until lato in the afternoon. A full east 

 exposure is not so good, because it is exposed to 

 eastern winds ; and the \'ines are very liable to in- 

 jury from late spring frosts, the sun coming upon 

 the vines so suddenly as not to give them time to 

 thaw out gradually. It is well known that tender 

 vegetation, slightly frozen in the spring, if thawed 

 out in the shade, receives litUo or no injury ; but 

 when exposed to the sun to thaw out suddenly, is 

 almost sure to be killed. A full east exposure also 

 loses the sun too early in tlie afternoon. A west- 

 ern exposure is still worse, from its receiving the 

 sun so very late in the afternoon, and is liable to 

 suflTer from chilly evening dews. It is also more 

 liable to suffer from west Avinds and driving storms. 



Ilill-sides, or elevated ground where the soil is 

 naturally dry, warm and deep, is absolutely neces- 

 sary to the well-being of the vine. It not unfre- 

 quently happens that high gi'ound is very springy 

 and wet, but such places are usually very readily 

 nnderdrained. 



Grape vines can not thrive long in low, wet, cold 

 situations — the roots are apt to canker and rot, and 

 the grapes are liable to bo affected with the wet- 

 rot, and are invariably watery, insipid, and of poor 

 flavor, and never make the best wine. In such 



>, 



places, the sun's rays hardly ever fall upon the : 

 vines with full force and in the proper direction, so 

 as to thoroughly warm the soil and ripen the wood 

 of the vine, and give flavor to the grape. More- 

 over, grape vines in such localities are far more J^e; 

 liable to be heaved by severe winter freezing ; the 

 wood not being thoroughly ripened, is unable to 

 withstand the severity of the winter, and also mow 

 subject to mildew in summer; and, in addition, 

 they must necessarily be more liable to the depre- 

 dations of injurious animals, such as mice, musk« 

 rats, &c., as they are well known to frequent low, 

 wet places, rather than high and dry ones. 



There is, however, a great difference between 

 the foot, the middle, and the summit of a hill. The 

 top of a hill is very frequently too exposed to the 

 cold north winds ; and moreover, is frequently too 

 stony and poor, all the organic matter having been 

 washed down on to the hill-side and into the bot- 

 tom. The foot of the hill, not receiving adequately 

 the full force of the sun's rays during the day, is 

 more or less subject to late spring frosts. The mid- 

 dle of the hill, therefore, is the best; the fruit 

 comes to maturity earlier, and has a longer time t< 

 more perfectly ripen, and is, consequently, more fit 

 for wine, and of better flavor for the table. The 

 wood of the vine, also, is more thoroughly ripened, 

 and is, therefore, bettor enabled to withstand the 

 inclemency of the winter. 



The vineyard should not be located very near 

 low, wet woods, large ponds, swamps, lakes 

 marshes, «&c., as such places always generate fogu 

 and mists in the latter part of summer and earl) 

 fall, just when the dryest atmosphere is wanted fo. 

 ripening the grapes. There should not be largi 

 hills, high trees or large buildings near enough tt 

 cast a shade upon the vines. Nor should vineyardi 

 ever be made in deep gullies, valleys or ravines. 

 Such places always cast much shade morning and 

 evening, and create whirling currents of wind, 

 which collect much snow in winter, which is liable 

 to break down the vines. They also harbor all 

 kinds of noxious animals, such as mice, &c. 



The quality of the soil, also, is of the utmost im- 

 portance. The grape vine will live, it is true, where 

 any other hardy shrub will grow ; but if planted 

 in cold, wet, stiff, clayey soil, it cannot thrive 

 many years, and the grapes, if they ripen at all, 

 will bo watery and insipid. The only way in which 

 such a soil can be made fit for the grape vine, is by 

 mixing with it great quantities of marl or lime 

 mixed with sand, or like quantities of sandy loam, 

 and by thorough draining. The opposite extreme, 

 however, of light, sandy, poor soils, unless well 

 mixed with clayey marl, turfy, loamy sods, lime, or 

 decomposed vegetable soil from the woods, is also 

 bad. The most suitable soil, is that deep, rich, 

 loamy, gravelly, porous and well-drained soil, well 

 mixed Avith lime and gypsum, such as we see so 

 much of in Western New York. In fact, any soil 

 that wUl grow first-rate winter wheat, will grow 

 grapes. The best situation, therefore, is the south 

 side of a gently-rising hill, well sheltered all around 

 on the north and north-east by some higher hill» 

 or distant woods. 



It may so happen that a gentleman may want to 

 plant a vineyard who has not the desired kind of 

 soil. I would then say, choose the best you have, 

 and add the necessary constituents to moke it good. 



