90 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



from one to five cents per pound. They pay even at two cents, as they are a sure 

 crop. I would advise planting extensively if you live near enough to market to 

 reach it with your own team. I have used paper bags for several years past, on 

 account of the birds, insects, and rot; could not succeed without. The grapes 

 should be sacked soon after the blossoms fall the sooner the better or bac- 

 teria germs get possession and the grapes are likely to scab and rot. Many fail 

 because they defer too long before putting on the sacks. We put up unfer- 

 mented grape juice by pressing out the juice, bring to boiling-point, and hermet- 

 ically seal. Use glass jars little trouble and no loss. Juice thus kept is 

 healthful and palatable. 



GRAPE GROWING IN SOUTHERN KANSAS. 



By P. C. BOWEN, Cherryvale. 



Experience during the last twenty years with the grape has taught me that 

 only hardy varieties can be successfully grown in this part of the state with 

 profit to the producer, and then on specially favorable locations; high, rolling? 

 sandy, or gravelly soils, overlooking large bodies of water (the larger the better), 

 are much the best. Before planting, the soil should be deeply and thoroughly 

 plowed and subsoiled as deeply as possible, and only the most hardy varieties, 

 those usually termed " iron-clads," are preferable ; black grapes are best and most 

 satisfactory, giving uniformly good results. Good, strong two-year-old plants 

 only should be used in setting the vineyard, after which it should be thoroughly 

 and frequently cultivated all of the first season after transplanting, the tops 

 allowed to grow as they please, and only pruned after the leaves have fallen and 

 the sap has gone down into the roots in the following fall or winter, when they 

 would be cut back to three canes containing several buds each; two for side 

 arms, on opposite sides, and one for an upright cane, in the center. During the 

 following winter, or very early in the spring, posts at least six feet long should 

 be firmly and securely set, one at about eight feet from the end of each row 

 and securely braced lengthwise of the rows, and good, strong galvanized wires 

 should be tightly stretched, and nailed with fence staples, from one end of each 

 row to the other. The first wire should be placed about fourteen inches from 

 the surface of the ground, and at least three additional wires, fourteen inches 

 apart, should also be securely fastened to the posts, as above stated, thereby form- 

 ing a trellis to train the canes upon. Tie the canes to the lower wire, not too 

 tightly, else when they grow the twine used will cut off the canes. Wool twine 

 or some other kind of soft, strong twine is the best and most satisfactory for the 

 purpose. 



Cultivate thoroughly and frequently between the rows with a Planet Jr. 

 horse hoe, about three inches deep, during the season, using a hand hoe around 

 the vines and between each post of the trellis, to keep down all weeds and grass 

 and form a soil mulch around the grape- vines. Should any fruit bunches form 

 the first or second season after transplanting, pinch them off while young and 

 tender, as if left to mature on the vines they will weaken their vitality to such 

 an extent as to materially injure succeeding crops, and be of but little value to 

 the grower. Clip off all laterals just above the first leaf as fast as fully formed, 

 until the third year after transplanting. Prune off all surplus wood (leaving 

 only one strong bud in a place on each main cane ) in the winter season, as above 

 noted, and you may be reasonably sure of an excellent crop of choice grapes each 

 year that you continue to do your whole duty by your vineyard. Thorough and 

 clean cultivation and both winter and summer pruning should be persistently 

 kept up in the vineyard ; also spraying with Bordeaux mixture, in the early spring 

 before the buds start, should be kept up during the entire life of the vineyard. 



