72 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



shallow cultivation, so they will not suffer during the dry spell which we always 

 have at ripening time. I would not advise planting for commercial purposes, 

 but would plant 100 to 150 vines for home use ; they will do well on most any 

 soil, just so you keep it stirred and free from weeds. 



F. A. BARBER, Ransom, Ness county : I have fifty grape-vines, planted on 

 sandy loam not far from water. A northeast slope is preferable; plant two-year- 

 old vines, eight feet apart; I mulch my vines; am trying Concord; would not 

 advise extensive planting ; have never sacked my grapes, as I am a new beginner 

 and have had no experience. 



W. H. AKERS, Cactus, Norton county: I have 225 grape-vines growing on 

 bottom land, which I prefer; set one-year-old vines, six feet apart ; prune by cut- 

 ting out the old wood, in November ; pinch back once or twice during summer. 

 I use stakes five or six feet high for trellis; cultivate with double- shovel plow 

 and hoe; do not mulch my vines; have tried Concord, Worden, Diamond, and 

 Ives; have discarded the latter, as it wilts on the vines as soon as it begins to 

 ripen. I would recommend Concord, Worden, and Diamond, as they do best in 

 this locality; cut the grapes with a knife, and sell at home for four cents per 

 pound; they scarcely pay. I would not advise planting them extensively: have 

 never bagged my grapes. 



J. J. ALEXANDER, Norton, Norton county : My grapes are planted on a south- 

 eastern slope. Have tested Concord, Worden, Niagara, Elvira, and Cham- 

 pion. Have discarded all but Concord, Worden, and Niagara. Plant No. 1 

 one-year-old vines, six feet apart. Mulch to keep the weeds down. Prune 

 the young growth severely in February. Do not summer prune. I think posts 

 and smooth wires make the best trellis. Do not bag my grapes, as the wind and 

 rain destroy paper bags. Market the fruit at home. They are a paying crop 

 here. 



J. Q. LLOYD, Barclay, Osage county: I have 150 grapes, planted on creek 

 bottom, set at two years of age, ten feet apart, in rows eight feet apart. I prune 

 on a fine day in February ; also cut off all unnecessary shoots during summer. 

 My trellis is hedge posts and galvanized wire. Cultivate with a disk harrow. 

 Do not mulch. Have tried several varieties of grapes, but discarded all but Con- 

 cord, as they did not pay. Would recommend only the Concord for this locality. 

 Use all the fruit at home, and consider them a paying crop ; but would not ad- 

 vise extensive planting. Have never bagged the fruit. 



OLOF LARSEN, Lyndon, Osage county: I have about 100 grape-vines growing 

 on light loam: I think a northern slope preferable; set my vines 10x12 feet; 

 prune in March, by cutting off about all new growth. My trellis has three strands 

 of No. 9 wire. Till with a cultivator; a plow and one-horse cultivator are the 

 best tools; do not mulch. Have tried the Concord only. Most assuredly they 

 are a paying crop for home use. Have never sacked the fruit to protect it. 



GODFREY FINE. Maxson, Osage county: Have fifty bearing vines, mostly 

 Concord, on bottom land. I plant one- to two-year-old vines, seven feet apart; 

 cultivate with a hoe; prune in February; do not prune during summer. My 

 trellia, which is as good as any, is made of posts and wires. Market at home. 



W. G. SHORT, Twin Creek, Osborne county : About all varieties do well here 

 for such culture as they get. They are generally planted in unfavorable places in 

 the orchard, and with no particular care. W T orden and Concord are favorites. 



