1871 



THE WESTERN POMOLOGIST. 



145 



" Tlie niatn RequIsiteN In Grape Culture." 



After an cxperieiioc in griipo cviHuri' of many 

 years, Geo. W. Campbell thus writes to the Joiir- 

 ndl of IlurtioiUitre: 



" In 1801, at the request of the late Commission- 

 er Newton, the writer prepared an article for pub- 

 lication in the Patent Office Report of that year, 

 giving in full the result of our experiments and the 

 general conclusions to which we had arrived ; ami 

 since that date, in the thousands f)r acres which 

 liavc been set to gTajjcs in this |iart of the country, 

 there has been no material deviation from the sys- 

 tem there advocated as the result of our experience. 

 The whole may be summed up in a few words — 

 thorough underdraining, shallow planting, (just 

 deep enough to .set the roots properly,) vines set in 

 rows north and south, six feet apart in the rows, 

 and the rows eight feet apart, very little if any sum- 

 mer pruning-, and the main jjruning in winter, ac- 

 cording to circumstances. These are the main 

 requisites. 



The writer was applied to a few weeks since, for 

 an article for publication in a leading journal on 

 the subject of grape culture. He replied to the ap- 

 plication by referring to the article in the Patent 

 Office Report of 1861, and stated that since the pub- 

 lication of that article he had no reason to change 

 his views therein expressed. On the other hand 

 subsequent experience has confirmed every leading 

 principle there advocated. 



As to the theory of giving the vines twice or ten 

 times the room which we have adopted, as a gener- 

 al principle, it may be well enough for those who 

 are disposed to try it. I have known eight bushels 

 of Isabella grapes to grow on one vine, when there 

 was no other vine within a hundred feet in any di- 

 rection; and this vine was trained all over a large 

 building; and I have myself paid for eight tons of 

 the same variety, grown on one acre, the vines six 

 by eight feet, or fortj'-eight superficial feet to each 

 vine. The question is : Which system will grow 

 the greatest quantity to the acre, and with the least 

 expense ? I have vines in my experimental vine- 

 yard which were set in 1843, and they are now ap- 

 parently as healthy as those set twenty years later, 

 which seems conclusive evidence that grape vines, 

 if properly treated, may be made to thrive on forty 

 feel of good soil. I am of the opinion that eight 

 hundred vines to the acre, if properly managed, 

 will yield more fruit than half the number of vines 

 on the same surface. In this respect, I would say, 

 let every one give his vines as much room as he 

 pleases, provided it is not less than forty-eight su- 

 perficial feet to each vine." 



IH^Examine your grape vines for a small gray 

 bug and a worm of similar color. They are dam- 

 aging vines about here. 



Grapes lor Raisins, and How Made. 



The Utah Pomologid gives the following account 

 of the varieties of grape nicst valuable for raisins, 

 and the method practiced in their preparation. 



" Although we have often referred to this subject, 

 we think its importance Ts worthy of being again 

 brought forward. Experience here for the last few 

 years has ijroven that at present and prospective 

 prices for wine, raisins will not only find quicker 

 sale, but produce a more profitable crop, especially 

 when barrels, casks and storage are so expensive. 



As this is the planting .season we will again make 

 mention of such varieties of grapes as we have 

 found by experience to make the best and most 

 profitable raisins, so far as we have been able by 

 fruiting and curing to learn. 



The Sultana makes a small, seedless raisin of 

 much excellence. The Bowood Muscat for a crop, 

 stands first on the list for size, quality, and produc- 

 ing heavy crops. Then follows White and Red 

 Malaga, White Muscat of Alexandria, White Mus- 

 catel, Cannon Ball Mu.scat, White Nice, Chasselas 

 Mo.sque, Chasselas Fontinbleau, Canadian Chief, 

 etc. Care should be taken in pruning if grapes are 

 grown for raisins, to prune the vines of all small 

 wood, and not allow too man}^ or small bunches to 

 grow, and thus your fruit will be large, and when 

 fully ripened make raisins as fine and large as any 

 imported. 



For curing, the fruit should be allowed to hang 

 on the vine until it begins to shrivel, then cut the 

 stems and spread the bunches upon tables or upon 

 (\xy ground, smoothed and cleaned off for the pur- 

 pose, so arranged that all can be conveniently reach- 

 ed — so that the bunches may be carefully turned 

 over everj' other day for ten or fifteen days, accor- 

 ding to the temperature of the weather, and until 

 all the grapes cease to yield any juice when smart- 

 ly pressed between the thumb and finger. When 

 fullj' cured they .should be taken up soon after mid- 

 day, allowed to cool in a close room, and then pack- 

 ed in layers, with paper between, in boxes careful- 

 ly lined with clean blank paper, and firmly press- 

 ed into the boxes, nailed up and put away in a cool 

 dry place. 



Should any doubt our capacity for making large, 

 fine and luscious raisins, let them call and taste our 

 specimens, and their doubts will disappear." 



mouldy Casks." "Wine for Vinegar. 



" The best method for curing mouldy casks is to 

 take out the bungs and ventilate the casks for sev- 

 eral days by boring another hole. Mix then one 

 half gallon of water with 120 grammes of sulphu- 

 ric acid for every 30 gallons capacity of the cask. 

 Pour it in and shake it carefully. Then empty the 



