THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 71 



H. C. RIGGS, Wetmore, Nemaha county : I have about ope acre of grape-vines, 

 planted on sandy, gravelly soil having a western slope; the varieties are Moore's 

 Early and Concord. Concord is best. I prefer one-year-old vines, set 6x10 feet. 

 Cultivate with a one-horse, five-toothed cultivator and a double-shovel plow. 

 Prune thoroughly, in February, before the sap starts; do some summer pruning, 

 to avoid excess of vine. My trellis is two or three wires and posts. Never bagged 

 grapes. Cut from the vines with shears. I have not sold any, as this is my first 

 good crop. I consider them a good- pay ing crop. My grapes have done well this 

 year. I cultivate in the spring, as soon as the ground will work good, with a 

 double-shovel plow, being careful when next to the row not to go too deep; then 

 once a week afterwards, with a five-toothed cultivator, until August, or later if 

 weeds grow badly, using a hoe to clean out all weeds and grass in the rows. I 

 prune all excessive laterals and unfruitful vines, being careful to have a good shade 

 over the fruit. My early grapes show signs of blighting, as they did last year. 

 I went in with the shears last week [July 23], and pruned very severely, cutting 

 many vines within six inches of the clusters; they seem to be recovering vigor, 

 and promise to ripen up well. 



W. W. GARDINER, Chanute, Neosho county: I have twenty-four grape-vines 

 the Concord and one other variety. I prefer two-year-old ,vines, set seven feet 

 each way. Cultivate with a hand cultivator, but would use a horse if I had 

 many vines. My trellis is made of hedge posts, with poles nailed on for the vines 

 to cling to. I never summer prune, because I want long vines, and cannot see 

 well when the leaves are on. I think them a good, paying crop, and that more 

 money can be made from them than from any other fruit we raise in Kansas, if a 

 market can be found for them. 



O. M. RECORD, Thayer, Neosho county: My grape-vines are planted on sandy 

 loam having a southeast slope. My varieties are Concord, Moore's Early, 

 Brighton, Telegraph, Ives, Dracut Amber, and several other varieties that I do 

 not remember the names of. Discarded Telegraph because it rots badly; 

 Brighton, because of shy bearing; would recommend Concord, Moore's Early, 

 Ives, Dracut Amber, and Niagara. Others not yet in bearing are Worden, 

 Goethe, and Cynthiana. Plant one- or two-year-old vines, eight feet apart. Cul- 

 tivate with one- and two- horse cultivator and hoe. Prune from December to 

 February'; also in summer, because it makes finer bunches. My trellis has two 

 wires, one three and the other five feet from the ground; have some tied to 

 single stakes. I bag my grapes, partly to preserve nice specimens for our county 

 fair, and have taken the premiums five years out of six. I sometimes use a paper 

 meal sack and enclose a whole branch that has several bunches, but would not 

 advise it on a large scale ; bagged grapes will often keep perfectly on the vines 

 until November. 



G. SCHMOKER, Urbana, Neosho county: I have 150 grape-vines, planted 

 on poor land, underlaid with hard-pan. Plant one-year-old vines, eight feet 

 each way. Prune the last week in February and first two weeks in March; also 

 prune two or three times during summer. My trellis is made of posts, sixteen 

 feet apart, and three wires. Cultivate with a double-shovel plow, five or six 

 times a season ; this implement, or any one-horse cultivator, is good if the ground 

 is not weedy and is in good shape. I do not mulch ; do not think it would be 

 beneficial more than one or two years. I have tried only Concord, and .think it 

 best for this locality. Have marketed none; use all at home. I would not ad- 

 vise extensive planting. Have not sacked the fruit, as it has not been troubled 

 much with anything so far. Grapes do well here; all they need is constant 



