THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 75 



Diamond. Experimentally I am trying Carman, Niagara, Goethe, and Moore's 

 Early ; Carman is quite successful. Have discarded Moyer, as not prolific ; would 

 recommend Dracut Amber, Concord, Carman, and Diamond. Prefer one-year- 

 old vines, set six feet apart, in eight-foot rows. Cultivate by plowing shallow, 

 and keep the five-tooth cultivator going. Prune in February, to two or four 

 buds. My trellis is made of posts and No. 9 smooth wire. Never summer prune, 

 because the leaves are needed to shade the fruit. Have never bagged any. 

 Gather in one-half bushel baskets ; market at home. Think them a paying crop 

 for home use. 



J. T. EVERHART, Pratt, Pratt county: I have about 100 grape-vines; they are 

 Concord, Martha, and Niagara; think the slope makes no difference. Would 

 recommend the above list, as they do first-class here where they get moisture 

 enough. I plant two-year-old vines, eight feet apart; cultivate shallow and irri- 

 gate. Prune any time from first of January to last of February. Think wooden 

 trellis best. Have not tried bagging grapes, but think it would be good to keep 

 birds and insects off. Market all I raise at home ; they are profitable. 



S. S. HINERMAN, Chardon, Rawlins county : There are but few grapes grow- 

 ing in this county, although I know of some that are making a splendid growth. 

 With proper care, I think we can grow grapes for family use, but as to whether 

 we can grow them in sufficient quantities for commercial purposes the future 

 will show. I regret my inability to give you any practical knowledge, on the 

 subject. 



JAMES L. WILLIAMS, McDonald, Rawlins county : I have not been very suc- 

 cessful with grapes on account of grasshoppers; but I believe they will be all 

 right just as soon as the 'hoppers are gone. There are several small vineyards in 

 this county that are doing nicely, and are full of grapes. 



JAMES BAINUM, Arlington, Reno county: I have 150 grape-vines growing on 

 valley land. Have tested and discarded Elvira, because it does not bear well; 

 would recommend Concord, as it does best with me. Plant two-year-old-vines, 

 6x12 feet; cultivate with a disk; prune in February; do not prune during sum- 

 mer, for lack of time. I think stakes of Osage orange make the best trellis. Do 

 not believe bagging would pay. Pick my grapes with shears. They are a paying 

 crop. I may plant more grapes next spring. [Good !] 



E. MORGAN, Hutchinson, Reno county: I have 3000 grape-vines which are a 

 success ; they are planted on Arkansas river bottom land, on lightest sand and 

 heaviest loam. I have discarded Goethe, because it winter-killed. Would rec- 

 ommend Concord and Moore's Early. I planted one- to two-year-old vines, 6x8 

 and 7x7 feet; cultivate by throwing the dirt from the vines with a plow, then 

 hoe and, when the weeds come up again, plow the dirt back. I prune after Jan- 

 uary 1, leaving five arms to a vine; in trellising I use two wires; I prune twice 

 during summer, to induce better growth of fruit. Have never bagged any. Cut 

 the bunches and place in half-bushel baskets. Market in Hutchinson. I con- 

 sider them a good, paying crop at the prices which we have received the last three 

 years. They are very largely grown in this locality, and the only thing which 

 prevents complete success is the ravages of the birds; I have known whole crops 

 taken by the birds, and every year the damage is great. The chief destroyer is 

 a species of oriole that migrates in August, and the man that can stop the rav- 

 ages of these pests will benefit the grape growers more than I could tell. [ Bag 

 the grapes.] I think that native birds do more good than harm, but those that 



