64 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



vation and spraying make fine grapes, and those who do n't give them this treat- 

 ment have very few grapes which are not poor in quality. I sell from fifteen to 

 thirty dollars' worth per year from my vines. 



A. D. CHAMBERS, Hartford, Lyon county : Have 2000 vines growing on upland 

 sloping to bottom land ; one vineyard is level, the other slopes to the south. The 

 varieties are Concord, Early Ohio, Worden, Catawba, Clinton, Niagara, Martha, 

 Delaware, Dracut Amber, Muscadine, etc. Have discarded all but Concord, 

 Dracut Amber, Worden and an extra-early grape ; would recommend this list. 

 The Concord has been my only paying grape. Plant No. 1 yearling vines, seven 

 by eight or eight by nine feet. Cultivate with a plow; generally plant early 

 potatoes and corn between the rows. Prune in February or March to two or 

 three buds; summer prune but not thoroughly, as I haven't time. I have used 

 stakes as trellis, but wire is preferable. Have not bagged any, as they are too 

 cheap to pay for the work. Gather in baskets, half bushel and less, owing to the 

 distance they are to go ; prefer small packages. Market at home ; the grapes are 

 fine and there is a ready sale for them; realize about fifty dollars per acre; 

 counting labor and expense of growing grapes, the profit is about the same as 

 that for corn or potatoes. 



T. W. ALLISON, Florence, Marion county: I have about 250 grape-vines, 

 planted on a rich, black loam having a deep subsoil, part of which is level and 

 part on a southern elope. Varieties tested are Concord and Worden. Would 

 recommend both. I plant yearling and two year old vines, eight feet each way. 

 Cultivate very shallow ; keep them clean of weeds all the time. Prune in Feb- 

 ruary or March, fan system ; pruned in summer three years ago, but it did not 

 pay. It only causes laterals to grow where they will be cut away in the winter 

 pruning. I think a four-wire fence six feet high makes the best trellis. I bag 

 grapes for late home use ; it pays well for 200 bags and time ; it keeps the grapes 

 nice and plump till frost. Cut grapes with common shears ; prefer eight- pound 

 baskets. Market at Florence. I realized in 1898 at the rate of over $100 per 

 acre. Hail killed the crop of 1899. I consider them a paying crop. We have 

 put up unfermented grape juice; stew the grapes and press out the juice, heat to 

 boiling-point, and can in glass jars, air-tight. We have plenty of water, and irri- 

 gate our vineyard whenever it needs it. 



J. T. MEIERDIRCKS, Florence, Marion county: Have 1000 grape-vines, planted 

 on calcareous loam having a northern slope. I set two-year-old vines, 6x8 feet. 

 I prune on the Kniffin system, in February ; do not prune during summer, ex- 

 cepting where the green shoots interfere with the cultivator. My trellis is two 

 continuous wires. Till frequently with a two-horse cultivator followed by a 

 weeder. Do not mulch. Have tried Concord, Worden, Niagara, Delaware, 

 Woodruff Red, and Moyer. Have discarded none, but the Delaware is not very 

 thrifty. The Concord and Worden do best ; would recommend these, with Elvira 

 and Green Mountain, for this locality. Market my grapes at home, realizing two 

 and one-half cents per pound ; think they pay fairly. Our market would not war- 

 rant planting extensively. I think every one ought to put out a few vines. 



JAMES McNicoL, Lost Springs, Marion county: Have five acres of grapes, 

 planted on dark limestone soil which slopes slightly to the northeast. Varieties 

 tested are: Concord, Worden, Moore's Early, Elvira, Brighton, Early Victor, 

 Martha, Empire State, Niagara, Wyoming Red, and Catawba. Have discarded 

 Empire State and Early Victor. Would recommend Worden, Concord, Wyom- 

 ing Red, Martha, Niagara, and Brighton. Have tested Campbell's Early, but it 

 is not up to expectations yet. Plant one-year-old vines, 8x9 feet. Till with a 



