326 



THE ILLINOIS FAKMER. 



Nov 



Grape Culture. 



We now close another year af experiment in 

 grape culture, in which we find some new features, 

 several of which culminated at the State Fair. 



First, we will speak of the culture of Dr. Schroe- 

 der, of Bloomington. The Doctor in his blue 

 blowse was on hand to explain his practice and 

 theories, is very enthusiastic, and at times elo- 

 quent, especially when dilating on Norton's Yir- 

 ginia, which he places at the head of the list of 

 wine grapes. He says it is hardy, very productive, 

 free from rjt and mildew — all very important 

 points in a wine grape, to say the least. For an 

 early grape, Hartford Pacific is esteemed highly. 

 For a late table grape, Concord is much extolled as 

 the grape for the million. Herbemont is called by 

 the Doctor a good grape of small size and deep 

 blue color ; productive, but less hardy than Isa- 

 bella, and of course must be layed down and cov- 

 ered with earth or litter. Garrigues is one of the 

 Doctor's table favorites, of small size, hardy and 

 productive. Diana is well spoken of; North Car- 

 olina Seedling, is another of the Doctor's pets, 

 being productive and hardy. Judging from the 

 large quantity of fine bunches of the Catawba in 

 the Doctor's collection, he will not at once aban- 

 don its culture. Our readers will recollect that at 

 the winter meeting of the State Horticultural So- 

 ciety, the Doctor stated that he could not succeed 

 well with the Delaware, and that he held it in no 

 high esteem as a profitable grape. Another year 

 hai not changed his views in regard to it, though 

 he confesses to a better growth as plants get older. 

 The American Black Hamburgh has large berries, 

 bunches shouldered and compact, is as hardy as 

 the Concord. It is a fine showy grape, of which 

 we shall hear agiin. The Isabella, for a market 

 table grape ranks high in the Doctor's vineyard. 



When we take into consideration the location 

 of Bloomington, wo must concede that these ex- 

 periments are of no small value, as they can be 

 fully relied upon ; the Doctor being a practical 

 man, without a disposi ion to grind his own axe 

 at the expense of his friends. 



The collection of Mr. Chas. H. Rosensteil, of 

 Freeport, was also a good one, and like Dr. Schro- 

 der's was graced with the ribbons. His Isabellas 

 were particularly fine and well grown. In the 

 Delaware, J. H. Stewart, of Quincy, took the lead, 

 and proved most conclusively that this very fiug 

 grape can be grown in Adams county. We hear 

 a deal about our propagating of this variety, and 

 here we have it: vines twenty feet long in a sea- 

 son, with such snug coilapact bunches of fruit on 

 the bearing wood of the same vine, that one might 



think Bacchus had taken it in special charge. For 

 a time we gazed in mute astonishment at vine and 

 fruit — a nudge at our elbow and a simple question 

 from our friend Stewart, " do you see it, and have 

 you not been too fast in calling the Delaware a 

 slow grower ?" Stepping to the collection of Dr. 

 H. Chafiee, of Tolona, we compared his Delawares 

 with those of our Quincy friend, and called atten- 

 tion to the marked difference in size of bunch and 

 of berry. Dr. Chaffee resides but six miles from 

 us, and is one of the most careful gardeners, but 

 has not been able to make more of the Delaware 

 than ourself 



To those who want strong healthy vines, that 

 show no signs of effeminacy, we commend them to 

 Stewart. That we shall be able to grow this grape 

 in all part of the State, we firmly believe, but to 

 do so we shall have to learn something more in 

 regard to its wants of peculiar properties of soil. 

 This matter of over propagation we are disposed 

 to call all bosh, but to settle it have ordered a 

 small lot of thrifty plants of Stewart. We have 

 fruited the Delaware this season for the first time, 

 and notwithstanding the drowth have had a better 

 growth than usual. The fruit is of the highest 

 excellence, and suited to the taste of a large ma- 

 jority of people, but thus far, its growth has not 

 given satisfaction, except in particular locations ; 

 Mortier of Cincinnati, and Stewart of Quincy are 

 among the most successful. We are inclined to 

 the belief that it requires a highly calcareous soil, 

 and that it will need lime or bones in such soils as 

 ours. The soil at Quincy is a stiff calcareous, 

 well drained clay soil, on which all grapes and 

 fruits do remarkably well. If this is the case, this 

 must prove the grape for the basin of Egypt and 

 on the south slope of the grand chain among 

 the outcrops of the mountain limestone, as well 

 as at Freeport and the region of Trenton lime- 

 stone at Rockford, and along the outcrop of the 

 Niagara group on the Illinois, Fox and Kankakee 

 rivers. This will give it a large range in this 

 State, enough one would suppose to satisfy its 

 friends. Next year we shall put this grape in the 

 vineyard for further trial, but we confess with no 

 very sanguine hopes of large profits. 



Dr. H. Chaffee had the only lot of foreign grapes 

 grown under glass, but as it required half a dozen 

 bunches of each variety exhibited, he only enter- 

 ed for the best late grape. His grapes were well 

 grown and attracted considerable attention from 

 the great size of the bunch and berry. We do not 

 think it will pay to grow grapes under glass in 

 this part of the State, as most kinds ripen perfect- 

 ly out of doors. . , . 

 mead's seedling. 



Mr. I. A. Pettingill presented a grape under this 



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