so IITHERN HOR TICL E TUNE. 



613 



erly belong to this account, as the expense was calcu- 

 lated on the whole area of eight acres. 



Speaking of the work in his section in general, and 

 his own labors in particular, Dr. Wilson told me that 

 his object was to increase his area until he could have 

 in bearing 100 acres. He believed that grape growers in 

 his section would do vastly better, on the whole, by sell- 

 ing a good quality of fruit to near-by markets, or even 

 shipping to New York, than they could by attempting to 

 handle their whole crop under the line of ' ' fancy fruit, " 

 though he thoroughly believed in good, honest and 

 attractive packing. The varieties mainly planted were 

 Concord, Niagara, Ives, Martha, Delaware, Brighton, 

 Catawba, Champion, Hartford, and Moore's Early . If I 

 could base my judgment on the growth of vines, I should 

 say that Champion and Niagara were decidedly the best 

 for the section. 



Ives is mainly grown, 

 and in large quantities, 

 for its good shipping 

 qualities. 



Dr. Wilson has, on 

 the several places under 

 his management, 50 va- 

 rieties of grapes which 

 are being tested. These 

 are mainly of the la- 

 brusca type, with a few 

 riparia and aestivalis. 



It is interesting to note 

 the cost of vineyard 

 planting in this section, 

 especially for compari- 

 son with older sections 

 of the country. The 

 figures given are the re- 

 suits of actual work 

 performed, and leave a 

 margin for the contract- 

 or equal to a fair wage 

 per diem. 



For clearing land (second growth of pine mainly) $S 

 per acre ; fencing, $5 an acre (material for fencing 

 being taken from the timber on the land) ; removing 

 stumps, %io per acre; for vines (one year old), plant- 

 ing, cultivation and care for first year, $76 per acre ; 

 total cost exclusive of land, for first year, $gg per acre ; 

 for the second year, fertilizers, .cultivation, care and 

 trellising, $68 per acre. This brings the vineyard to the 

 bearing point when it may be expected to return part 

 of the expense the next year. 



Land in this section can be bought at from $2 to $5 

 an acre in large tracts, according to distance from the 

 railroad and the quantity of timber on it. 



Under Dr. Wilson's care are several hundred acres of 

 land, part of which is in vines. Our illustration shows 

 the manner of cultivation and gives a faint idea of the 

 growth of the vines. The photograph was taken about 

 May loth, and the vines were set the previous Febru- 



Starting a Georgia Vineyard. 



ary. The balance of the tract is being rapidly cleared 

 and planted. It is owned principally by New York 

 professional men who are interested solely for the sake 

 of profit. They have faith in the region and in its 

 future as a grape-growing section, a faith which I be- 

 lieve is fully warranted by the prospects. The dreaded 

 rot has not yet appeared to any extent, even in the 

 older vineyards of this section. 



In a recent letter from Dr. Wilson he says: "The 

 grape prospect improves as time passes. The crop on 

 bearing vines was as good this year as usual. Not a 

 vine was sprayed, and no rot or mildew was seen on any 

 of the standard varieties. Prices were good for fruit 

 that went to market in good condition, but some of it 

 was so badly handled that the growers consequently did 

 not realize anywhere near its full value. 



" I had 75 pounds on 

 one-fourth of an acre of 

 Champion, planted in 

 the spring of 1890 also 

 a few Hartford, Martha 

 and Niagara, which were 

 sold at Albany, Ga., at 

 10 cents a pound. 



"Young vines have 

 done finely on Mr. Has- 

 hagen's place. (See illus- 

 tration, cultivating 

 young vines). The vines 

 planted last spring on 

 this place average a 

 growth of six feet of 

 cane, and many of them 

 10 feet. One of the finest 

 vines on the entire 10 

 acres is a Muscat of 

 Alexandria, and there 

 are many vines of Black 

 Hamburgs. " 



I have seen most of 

 the famous vineyards in 

 the United States, and so far as my opinion is of value, 

 the state of Georgia is destined to outrival any of the 

 United States, with the possible exception of California, 

 as a grape region. 



It is true that there are, and will be for some time, 

 hindrances which will require time and money to over- 

 come. More and better grape growers are needed. 

 Capital can be used advantageously and, I believe, 

 profitably. Better railroad facilities, which will un- 

 doubtedly come with the growth of the section, and 

 lower rates of transportation — all are desideratums 

 which, when gained, will place this section among the 

 famous horticultural regions of our country. The great 

 activity now prevailing in industrial matters in parts of 

 Georgia must also re-act strongly upon fruit growing, 

 increasing the extent of the markets, and improving the 

 transportation facilities. 



Geo. R. Knapp. 



