32 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



REPORTS FROM GRAPE GROWERS. 



L. PERRENOUD, Humboldt, Allen county: I have about 800 grape-vines, set 

 8x8 feet when two years old. Prune in February or March. My trellis has 

 three wires. I mulched once a few years ago, but it caused the roots to run on 

 top of the ground. Have tried Concord, which is the best, Elvira, and Virginia 

 seedling; have discarded Goethe, Triumph, and Prentiss. Sell them in town 

 for from two to three cents a pound. I have a good crop every year, even when 

 my neighbors have a failure. I do n't give them any better culture than they do, 

 but I prune severely, and always have strong, new wood. 



L. D. BUCK, Moran, Allen county: I have 200 grape-vines, 100 planted on 

 bottom and 100 on upland. Set two-year-old vines, 8x8 feet. Prune in February 

 and June. Also prune during summer. My trellis is hedge posts and two 

 wires. Cultivate shallow ; I think the scraper and diamond plow the best tools 

 for this work. I have mulched, but do not now. Have tried Concord, Pock- 

 lington, Martha, Moore's, and Brighton. Have discarded Clinton; they are too 

 small and sour. Would recommend Concord and Pocklington, as they do best 

 here. Gather the fruit in baskets and market in lola, receiving from three to 

 five cents per pound. They are a paying crop. I would advise planting exten- 

 sively if you are near market. Have sacked the fruit, but it does not pay ; it 

 would if you had a market, but if you have to ship and sell through an agent, it 

 does not. 



E. T. METCALT, Colony, Anderson county: I have one-half acre of grape-vines, 

 planted on the south slope of a good knoll, but do not know that slope makes any 

 difference. Plant two-year-old vines, six feet apart. Prune in February to two or 

 three buds. Have a trellis made of smooth wire. Cultivate with a spading fork, 

 which I consider the best tool for this work. I mulch sometimes; think they 

 do better. Have tried Rogers's No. 1, Concord, Martha, Niagara, Pocklington, 

 Moore's Diamond, and Agawam. Have discarded none so far ; I would recom- 

 mend the Concord, as it does best here. We consume all the fruit at home. I 

 would not advise planting extensively here unless they can be mulched. Have 

 never sacked the fruit. My wife has put up unfermented grape juice, but I 

 know nothing about it. 



WILLIAM NEWCOMB, Welda, Anderson county: I have sixty grape-vines, set in 

 red limestone soil ; I prefer high land. Set one- or two-year-old vines, twelve feet 

 in the row; Prune closely during February, cutting back to two eyes to the spur ; 

 also believe in summer pinching. My trellis is made of Osage orange posts, with 

 three galvanized wires ; the top one is four feet from the ground. Cultivate shal- 

 low ; a five-shovel-cultivator and harrow are best for this work. Never mulch in 

 the spring, but sometimes during summer. Concord is the standard variety here. 

 Have tried and discarded Clinton and Martha; they make a wonderful growth 

 year, after year, but always commence to rot when two-thirds grown, and by fall 

 there is little or no fruit. Persistent spraying will save them and make a fine 

 crop, but at the prices we receive for them in our local market from three-fourths 

 to one and one-half cents they will not pay for the labor and expense. The 

 Concord and Worden do best here. I would not advise extensive planting. Have 



