76 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



come from the north take our entire grape crop and do no good ; some means 

 should be devised for protection ; at present all we have is the shot-gun, and that 

 is expensive and inadequate. 



JAMES DUNLAP, Hutchineon, Reno county: I have twenty acres, or 11,000 

 grape-vines, growing on level, sandy land. Of all slopes, southern is preferable. 

 Set two-year-old vines, nine by nine feet. I prune close, from November until 

 March 1 ; also prune three times during the summer. For a trellis I use first- 

 class posts, sixteen feet apart, and two No. 10 wires. I till them by plowing the 

 ground early in the spring; then cultivate afterwards with a turning-plow and 

 five-tooth cultivator. Do not mulch. I have tried a great many varieties, but 

 discarded nearly all of them because some were unproductive, some poor quality, 

 and others not hardy. Those which do best here are Moore's Early, Concord, 

 and Niagara. I would recommend Moore's Early, Concord, Niagara, Ives, Ca- 

 tawba, Moore's Diamond, and Goethe; the latter I would plant in limited num- 

 bers. Gather and market in eight-pound baskets, which I sell at wholesale and 

 also ship, receiving from twenty-five cents down to ten cents per basket for them. 

 They are a paying crop if a man has a small farm and plenty of help, but if he 

 has much other work to do, they do not pay, and I would not advise extensive 

 planting. I have sacked the fruit to protect it. We put up unfermented grape 

 juice for family use, in Mason's two- quart jars. 



E. B. HANSEN, Olcott, Reno county : I have 200 grape-vines growing on sandy 

 soil having a clay subsoil; planted strong one-year-old vines, 6x12 feet; prune 

 in February, also a little in summer; use a wire trellis; do not mulch; have tried 

 Concord, Niagara, and Delaware; the Concord and Delaware do best here; I re- 

 ceive two and one-half cents per pound, and consider them a paying crop. 



F. A. SMITH, Belleville, Republic county: Have twenty-five grape-vines at 

 present ; they do well on any good corn land ; slope makes little difference : north- 

 east slope sometimes retards too early start in spring ; have tried several kinds, 

 and discarded all but Concord, as all were too tender; tried Pocklington, but 

 drought killed it; I prefer two-year-old vines, set ten feet apart, rows eight feet, 

 but perhaps twelve feet would be better; till with a corn cultivator, or anything 

 that will keep them clean and the soil mellow; I prune while the vines are grow- 

 ing, so as to get the growth where I want it: Osage orange posts and galvanized 

 wire are best for trellis; have never bagged any: use all the fruit at home; they 

 are one of the surest and best- pay ing crops we grow. 



WILLIAM H. WERNEK, Alden, Rice county: I have perhaps 100 grape-vines; 

 sandy soil is preferable; would think hilly country best. Plant two-year-old 

 vines, eight to ten feet. Prune during the fall or in February ; also prune some in 

 summer. My trellis is a stake with a cross-bar. I cultivate my grapes shallow^ 

 so as not to disturb the roots; think a shallow-working tool is best, as the roots 

 lay very near the surface. I think mulching all right where a man can't irri- 

 gate. Have tried Concord, White Lady, Rogers's No. 4, and Clinton ; have dis- 

 carded the White Lady and Rogers's No. 4, because they would not stand the 

 drought. I would recommend Concord for this locality ; the Clinton also does 

 well here, but the berries are small and not marketable. I cut the bunches with 

 scissors or sharp knife, and sell for two or three cents per pound. Do not con- 

 sider them a paying market crop, but they pay well for family use. I would not 

 advise planting extensively here, as we are too far from market. Have never 

 tried sacking my grapes. The birds cause considerable loss where the vines are 



