80 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



year. Have tried Concord, and many other varieties. I would recommend the 

 Concord for this locality, as it is the most satisfactory. Consume all the fruit at 

 home. They are a paying crop, and I would advise extensive planting. Have 

 never sacked grapes. 



F. G. BARKER, Salina, Saline county: I have nine acres of grapes growing 

 on upland; think slope makes no difference. I planted first class one-year-old 

 vines, 10x10 feet, but think 8x12 would be a better distance. I prune to about 

 ten fruit-buds to each vine; I also prune during summer; walk down between 

 the rows and cut back the rampant growth with a corn-knife. For a trellis I use 

 one wire running east and west, one and one-half feet from the ground. I culti- 

 vate with a twelve inch plow and a disk harrow, which I consider best. I use a 

 home-made rake to remove the vines from between the rows after pruning. I 

 mulch my vines. I have tried Concord, Elvira, Delaware, lona, Wyoming Red, 

 Pocklington, Niagara, Worden, Ives, Moore's Early, Catawba, Clinton, America, 

 and Massasoit. Have discarded all the fancy and wine varieties, as the buyers 

 don't know any variety but the Concord, and they will buy ten baskets of Con- 

 cord to one of Delaware, at the same price. ThoFe which do best here are Mas- 

 sasoit, Worden, Catawba, and Ives. I would recommend Massasoit and Concord 

 for this locality. I gather in eight pound baskets, and do not repack before 

 marketing. Sell part in the vineyard, and the balance in neighboring towns. I 

 do not consider them a paying crop excepting for home use, and would not ad- 

 vise extensive planting here. I have sacked grapes for exhibition purposes, but 

 it will not pay in a commercial way, as the dealers will not pay for fancy grapes. 

 We put up unfermented grape juice ; we boil the fresh juice, skim, and put into 

 black quart bottles, drive cork in with hand corker, pour hot wax on the cork, 

 and, when cool, we dip the cork end of the bottle in hot wax. While making, 

 have everything hot, and then afterwards keep in a cooj place. I buy bottles at 

 the soda-fountains, at $3.50 per 100. 



HENRI FONEK, Salina, Saline county: I have an acre and a half of grape- 

 vines growing on black loam which is slightly sandy. I prefer a south or east 

 slope. Set two-year-old vines, 6x8 feet. I prune in March, and then in June, 

 after the grapes are set; I break [ ?] the rest. I use three wires and posts for a 

 trellis. Cultivate with a plow, in May, by turning the ground away from the 

 vines, and in June I turn it back; a plow is the best implement for this 

 work. I mulch once every three years. I would recommend Concord for this 

 locality, as this country is too windy for other varieties. I sell the fruit at home, 

 to farmers, receiving $200 per acre. They are a profitable crop, and I would ad- 

 vise extensive planting here. Have never sacked the fruit, but think it would 

 be very beneficial. We put up unfermented grape juice; boil it one minute and 

 seal up. 



A. W. JONES, Salina, Saline county: Have about 350 grape-vines, planted 

 on sandy soil, which I prefer ; the slope I think is not important. Have about 

 forty varieties. Have tried and discarded Champion as poor quality ; Goethe, 

 Brighton, Salem, Agawam, Pocklington and Prentiss as too tender. Would 

 recommend Concord, Catawba, Lindley, Martha, Worden, Telegraph, and Elvira : 

 the latter one for jelly. Plant one-year-old vines, 8x9 feet. Till with a plow, a 

 cultivator, and a harrow ; keep the ground clean. Prune the latter part of win- 

 ter by thinning out the canes and cutting back to two or three buds; summer 

 prune some. My trellis is made of posts and wire. Do not bag grapes for mar- 

 ket, and would not advise it ; it is too expensive. Cut the bunches from the 

 vines and pack in eight-pound baskets. Market at Salina; at present prices the 



