62 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



selves; that will be in about two or three years. I trim off surplus wood after 

 they are done blooming and are in full leaf they will not bleed then leaving 

 just enough bearing wood to hold what fruit the vines will support. I sometimes 

 make a little frame around the base of the vine to hold the grapes up off of the 

 ground, but this is unnecessary after the vines are three or four years old. This 

 is the best style for this windy country; they are handy to gather, easy to culti- 

 vate, and they look well. I also irrigate, which is of great benefit to grapes here. 



MARK BOULWABE, Blue Mound, Linn county: I put out 2000 Concord grapes 

 in 1869, but they are about all gone now; they were on red, mottled soil; I think 

 a southeastern elope preferable; set two-year-old vines, 6x8 feet; prune back to 

 two or three buds in the fall, and nip them back during the summer to keep 

 them in shape; tie my vines to stakes; cultivate with a small, spring-tooth har- 

 row and a hoe, which I consider the best tools for this work ; have tried Concord, 

 Isabella, and Clinton; have discarded the latter two, because they drop so badly 

 and are inferior to the Concord ; I would recommend the Concord for this local- 

 ity; gather in baskets and market at home; I used to receive three to five cents 

 per pound ; it did not pay me, and therefore would not advise extensive planting 

 here ; have never sacked the fruit. 



J. W. LATIMER, Pleasanton, Linn county: I have about two acres of grape- 

 vines, planted on black limestone land. Slope makes no difference, if the land is 

 well drained. Set one- or two-year-old vines, 8x8 feet. Prune after the leaves 

 drop and before the sap starts again ; also summer prune to check too rank a 

 growth of the strong leaders. Use one stake, four feet high, to each vine. Give 

 them shallow culture with a plow, if not mulched; a hoe is the preferable tool 

 for this work. I do not mulch my vines, but it is highly advantageous. Have 

 tried Concord, Clinton, Elvira, August Giant, ten or fifteen of Rogers's hybrids, 

 Worden, Martha, Pocklington, Niagara, Moore's Early, Taylor, Champion, Dela- 

 ware, Ives, Virginia Seedling, Jefferson, Brighton, Catawba, Logan, Northern 

 Muscadine, Dracut Amber, etc. Have discarded all excepting Concord. Moore's 

 Early, Worden, and Niagara (if you want a white variety), because they did not 

 pay for the expense of raising. The Concord and Moore's Early do best here. 

 Gather and market in baskets, but they are not a paying crop excepting for home 

 use. I would not advise planting extensively here. Have never sacked the fruit 

 to protect it. We put up unfermented grape juice in bottles, the same as we can 

 fruit. My experience with the Worden is such that I am led to believe that I 

 have always received the Concord; if not, then I can see no difference in vine or 

 berry: therefore I leave it out of the above list. 



W. M. FLEHARTY, La Cygne, Linn county: Set my vines 10x12 feet; culti- 

 vate with a small diamond plow; prune in February, leaving two or three buds; 

 make my trellises of wire ; sometimes I prune a little in summer to keep the vines 

 in shape; have never bagged grapes, but think it would be beneficial; market at 

 home ; I think them a valuable crop for family use ; we have put up unfermented 

 grape juice ; we extract the juice, boil, and can it. I have grown vines in a small 

 way for the last thirty years, and the worst enemy I have to contend with is the 

 grape-berry moth. I find that grapes with a very thick skin succeed best. At 

 this date (August 1) the Ives is free from defective berries, while nearly all other 

 varieties I have are badly injured. I have never been a lover of the Ives, but to- 

 day every cluster is perfect, and it has always been so, but its flavor is not as fine 

 as some others; the vine is a rapid grower; it revels in rich soil, and never in 

 thirty years has it gone back on me ; it makes sound berries and perfect clusters. 

 Concord, Niagara and Moore's Early badly damaged by moth ; Delaware not so 

 much. 



