THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 77 



tied up, but if left near the ground the birds seldom hunt out the fruit. I shot 

 about 100 birds last year, and was afterwards told that if *I would place water 

 near the vines they would not trouble the fruit. 



DR. G. BOHRER, Chase, Rice county : I have about twenty-five grape-vines, 

 planted on black, sandy loam having a slightly eastern slope. My varieties are 

 Delaware, Niagara, and Concord. I prefer Concord, as it seems hardy and bears 

 well. I plant one-year-old vines, six feet each way; cultivate shallow. Prune 

 in February ; also in summer, as this throws more substance to the grapes and 

 prevents their dropping. My trellis is made of posts, sixteen feet apart, and 

 wire. Have not bagged grapes, and would not advise it, unless to fertilize and 

 produce a new variety; see no good in it excepting for this purpose. Cut the 

 bunches of grapes close to the vine. I have none to sell, but prefer baskets. I 

 consider them a paying crop, especially for family use. When the season is dry 

 I irrigate. We invariably have grapes on the Arkansas river bottom lands here 

 in Rice county. The grape roots get moisture from the river; that is found at a 

 depth of from five to fourteen feet on most of the farm lands of the Arkansas 

 river valley proper. On these lands irrigation is little needed. Am of the opin- 

 ion that hardy varieties can be successfully grown here. Niagara is not as hardy 

 as Concord, and will not stand drought nor cold as well. Delaware seems hardy, 

 but requires more moisture than Niagara or Concord in order to bear and de- 

 velop well. I have one vine under the eaves of the house which gets much more 

 water than those in the open ground ; it bears quite well, while the others be- 

 come feeble in dry weather and bear no fruit. No one would make a mistake by 

 planting Concord grapes largely in this county. 



H. C. HODGSON, Little River, Rice county: I have about one acre of grape- 

 vines, planted on bottom and second bottom land. I think a northern slope 

 preferable. Have always planted one-year-old vines, five to six feet apart in the 

 row, and the rows one rod apart. Prune the last year's growth back to one or 

 two buds ; never summer prune. My trellis is three wires, on posts twenty feet 

 apart. Till them with a one-horse cultivator until they begin to bear; then 

 mulch. Have tried Concord, Niagara, Wyoming Red, Agawam, Pocklington, 

 and Campbell's Early. Have discarded the Agawam ; it winter-kills. The varie- 

 ties that I think best for this locality, and that I would recommend, are Con- 

 cord, Niagara, and Campbell's Early ; the latter has been planted only one year 

 not long enough to test. Sell my grapes at home, realizing two and one-half to 

 three cents per pound for them. They are a fairly paying crop, but I would not 

 advise planting extensively. Have never tried sacking any. 



JAMES ANDERSON, Leonardville, Riley county : I have two dozen grape-vines, 

 planted on level land. They are Concord ; would recommend this variety. Set 

 my vines six feet apart. Cultivate with a hoe. Prune in March. My trellis is 

 made of posts and wire. Do not summer prune. Gather my grapes by hand. 

 Market at home. I consider them a good paying crop. Have put up unfer- 

 mented grape juice. 



N. CHRISTIANSEN, Mariadahl, Riley county: I have seventy-five grape-vines 

 growing on second-bottom land; set two-year-old vines, 7x9 feet; in pruning, I 

 cut off all the dead wood and part of the bearing vine ; for a trellis I use posts 

 and wire ; till with a hoe, cultivator, and disk ; I do not, as a general thing, mulch 

 my vines, but think it should be done late in spring, for if it is done during the 

 winter it will draw frost in spring and kill the bloom, and perhaps vine also; 

 I had some killed this year ; I prune a little during summer to thin out sprouts ; 



