1871 



THE WESTERN NOMOLOGIST. 



101 



m mm^nxtf. 



Vineyard Work lor April. 



By tub Associate Editor. 



Much of the work uicntioneil last month iiiiij' 

 still be done if not already finislied, such as setting 

 posts, making trellis, tying up vines, phnigliing and 

 hoeing the ground, and making layers. But graft- 

 ing and pruning should have been done last month, 

 except in more northern regions. That we may 

 have some definite guide for different seasons and 

 latitudes, we will give the following rules: 



Grafting and pruning should be done before the 

 daily mean temperature reaches 45 degrees, so as to 

 escape the bleeding of the vines. 



Tying the vines to stakes or trellis should be done 

 before the daily mean teni|)irature reaches 50 de- 

 grees, so as to escape the swelling of the buds. 



The first ploughing and the planting of the vines 

 should be done before the mean temperature reach- 

 es 53 degrees, so as to be done before foliation takes 

 place. 



No layering from last years canes .shoidd be done 

 except immediately after ploughing and when the 

 mean temperature has reached 55 degrees, so the 

 canes will have made several inches growth, which 

 in this latitude will not be until May. 



No ploughing or hoeing should be done in wet 

 weather. Try and be ahead of your work for the 

 next two months ; it will increase on your hands 

 notwithstanding your promptness and diligence. 



"No. 13." 



By S. J. rAHKEn, Itdioa, N. Y. 



Ed. PoMGLOoisT : In looking over the numbers 

 of the last year's (1870) Westbkn Pomologist, I 

 sec on page 41, a fine grape figured and described. 

 The expression, "the color of the berry in the shade, 

 when ripe, is whitish green, and where exposed a 

 daik amber," and "it seems to possess in a remarka- 

 ble degree the principle of self preservation," &c.i 

 &c., leads me to say that the grape is Rogers' Hybrid 

 No. 1 ; and the figure on page 41 is a fair repcscnt- 

 ation of his No. 1. Tet it is strange that such an 

 excellent man as the Professor should not have 

 known Rogers' No. 1. I regaid No. 1. as the best. 



all things considered, of Rogers' whole collection, 

 for all regions east of the Rocky Mountains. The 

 vine is eminently hardy, never injured in foliage, 

 always bears well ; and no man can eat in October, 

 November, December and into January, and not 

 wish he had more and more of them. It melts in 

 delicious softness so delightfully in these months, 

 without one particle of ill flavor. 



If the grape described in the March number of 

 1870 is not this, it deserves attention, and to be bet- 

 ter known ; but I can hardly be in error as to its 

 real name. I am glad that at the West it is as at the 

 East, the rcUahU, excellent gra/pc that for the last ten 

 years I have asserted it to be. Please recommend 

 it more highly. I have now for twelve years prov- 

 en it, and in no year has it in the least failed with 

 me. 



Mr. Editor, I wish you would induce some of 

 your more wealthy grape growers to try some of the 

 grapes of Mr. David Thompson, of Green Island, 

 (post-office Green Island), near Troy, New York. I 

 cannot say they will not fail in the West. But this 

 I can say, that those who like mild flavored grapes 

 will certainly be pleased with these. And they 

 should be tried, everywhere. 



Mr. Thompson's large white grape is a splendid 

 affair, and is called the "General Grant." His 

 large oval black grape — the best of all his collection 

 is called "William Carpenter." The round black 

 grapes, "William Tell," "Eleanor," "Ellsworth," and 

 a dozen others, are fine samples, too, of new choice 

 large grapes. I am sorry Mr. Thompson's stock is 

 so small. He has but a few vines to sell, and these 

 are held at high figures, because he ought to be i)aid 

 for forty years' pains-taking to get them. I have 

 beard for years of them, but I never saw them until 

 last fall. They all have much foreign pollen in 

 them, and that casts a shade of doubt over their gen- 

 eral success, yet I saw them in the open air, in the 

 vicinity of Albany, N. Y., where we do not consider 

 the vine has the best home or locality, growing 

 healthily, with rich loads of fine fruit. If they can 

 be grown West as at Green Lsland, he is a dull 

 man who neglects to get them, that is certain. So 

 all who are up to the times we live in will get and 

 try them. 



