1866.] 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
183 
the experiments show tliat Jive coi-da of green 
wood are as heavy as eight dried ; that it requires 
as much physical forc^, man and horse power, to 
move 50 cords of green wood as SO of dried wood, 
— a/id that the man who carries into his house 10 
cords of four-foot green wood, carries in with it 
over 11 tons of water. Sixty lbs. of green wood 
will warm a room the same as 38 lbs. of dried ; 
and the 60 lbs. of green wood, while burning, 
discharges into the tire in tlie form of vapor 
just 23 lbs., or 3 gallons and 3 quarts of water, 
■which, in clianging to steam, c.irries off a great 
amount of heat in a latent, useless state. 
Our Native Grapes. 
BT T. C. BREH.M, WATERLOO, N. Y., (LjLT. 42° 55' NORTH.) 
[The following arrived too late for April, but we give 
it now, as embodying the valuable experience and opin- 
ions of one of our successful ciiltivatoi s. Many will dis- 
sent from some of Mr. Bielim's views in regard to varie- 
ties, but it is only by comparing notes of cultivators in 
difTerent parts of the country that we can reach any just 
conclusions as to tlie real status of varieties.— Eds.] 
To the Editors 0/ the American Agricuturist. 
It has beQU a pet theory with some to enrich 
the soil with strong, stimulating manures be- 
fore setting out tlie vines ; also to go to a large 
expense in trenching and working the soil to a 
depth of three feet and more. This I have 
tried, and fotmd to be worse than money 
thrown away, especially the heavy manuring, 
which resulted in positive damage to me. Isa- 
bella vines, which had always borne large crops 
of fiiir grapes that uniformly ripened, refused 
to do anything after being stimulated with 
strong manure, and I find that I am not the only 
one th'at has been misled by these theorists. 
Stimulating the vines with strong manures, 
causes a rampant growth of wood, which hard- 
ly ever ripens, and is very liable to be winter- 
killed. The fruit does not set well, ripens very 
uneven, and not as early, by nearly two weeks, 
and is very liable to mildew and rot, especially 
if there is much rain in July and August. 
"Working the soil 20 inches, is deep enough for 
all practical purposes, especially iu the Northern 
States. In countries where they have a hot 
climate and long Summers, without rain for 
long periods, like California, Spain, Italy and 
Portugal, this deep working is no doubt bene- 
ficial and necessary to protect the vine from in- 
tense heat and long droughts. But for our 
short Summers, where we have frequent rains, 
we want to keep the roots of the vine as near 
the surface as possible, and be out of the way of 
the cultivator and get the benefit of solar heat 
and light. Workiug 20 inches deep is about 
right, so far as my experience has shown. I 
use a clipper plow or strong sub-soil plow, 
having a sub-soil attachment behind that 
can be raised or lowered at pleasure, and by 
which you can loosen the sub-soil six inches 
below the point of the plow, and not throw it 
up oa top. Take a furrow, from six to eight 
inches wide, and go twice in a furrow. If the 
soil is very stilF it should be cross plowed. It 
will require three span of horses or oxen to do 
it well, and if the soil is heavy and stiff, four 
span. Oxen are best, being steadier and less 
liable to break the plow in stiif soil. Tbis 
method will break up and loosen the soil from 
eighteen to twenty-four inches, which is suffi- 
cient. Three yoke of oxen and two men can 
plow one acre per day unless the soil is too stiff. 
The requisites for successful grape culture are, 
first, a favorable location, one exempt from late 
spring and early fall frosts, and a judicious 
selection of varieties, adapted to the locality. 
Second, the soil should bo thoroughly dniiued, 
(unless it be on a deep, gravelly soil, where 
there is a good natural drainage) ; the draius not 
less than three feet deep, nor more than twenty 
feet apart, nor should tile be used less than 
three inches wide — three-inch horse-shoe tile, 
laid on boards, make a very good drain. Vines 
planted on wet or springy soils are more liable 
to rot and mildew, and will not perfect their 
fruits so well nor ripen as early as vines planted 
on a diy, warm soil. AVe cannot get our soil too 
warm and dry, especially for this latitude. This 
is an important fact, and should be remember- 
ed by those about engaging in grape culture. 
Third, the soil should be neither too light nor 
too heavy. Any good, well drained soil, that 
will produce from 15 to 20 bushels of wheat per 
acre, is rich enough for our strong growing na- 
tives, especially Isabella, Catawba, Diana, etc. 
Delaware requires a richer soil, and is an ex- 
ception to the general rule. Fourth, exposed 
lands, sloping to the south or southeast, are 
best, .tlthougli land that is level is not by any 
means to be despised, provided, however, that 
it does not lay too low, in a basin or deep val- 
lej', as such locations are more subject to frosts 
and fogs. If possible get near a large body of 
water, as such location has shown the best re- 
sults, near some of our numerous inland lakes for 
instance. Vineyards in their immediate vicinity 
seem to be exempt from spring frost and mildew. 
If the wind blows strongest from the west 
make the rows east and west ; if from the north 
or south, then make them north and south, so 
as to offer the least resistance to the wind. 
Anna, a white grape, seedling of Catawba. 
Bunch and berries medium size ; good quality 
and high flavor, where it ripens. Too late for 
this latitude, may do well further South, or 
where Catawba ripens well. Hardy. 
Allen's Hybrid, a white grape. Hybrid, be- 
tween a natiye and foreign grape, Isabella aud 
Chasselas.I believe, originated with Mr. J. Fisk 
Allen, of Salem, Mass. This fine grape is, in 
my estimation, the best white grape I know of. 
Ripens with Delaware, or middle of Septem- 
ber. Bunches large, shouldered and compact. 
Quality first best. Vine a little tender, and 
more suitable for tlie garden than vineyard, and 
should rank among the six best varieties. 
ADrROND.\c, is an excellent early grape, ripen- 
ing with Hartford Prolific and Israella, but too 
subject to mildew iu some localities, to be of 
much value for general cultivation or vineyard 
planting, except in localities where it has been 
tried and found to succeed. TVere it not for its 
liability to mildew and tenderness, it would be 
a desirable grape to plant for early marketing. 
Concord, a black grape. This has been, and 
is still, with some, a popular grape, especially 
at the West, where it seems to do better than in 
the Northern States. Bunches and berries large 
and fine looking. Ripens about the20tb of Sep- 
tember, or ten days before Isabella. Quality 
ordinary. It is foxy, teuder skinned, aud ber- 
ries frequently crack open and drop off in ship- 
ping to market^soraetimes on the vines. Rot- 
ted badly this season. It is now superseded by 
better sorts ; would not advise planting 
largely of it. Vine hardy and productive. 
Creveling, a black grape of good quality. 
Ripens early, or about September 5. Bunches 
medium size. Does not set fruit well, bunches 
very loose, the only objection to it. Hard}'. 
Delaware, a red grape ; one of our finest table 
grapes, ripening from 10th to 15th September. 
Quality first best. Very hardy and productive. 
Bimches and berries medium size, shouldered 
and very compact. Should be planted on a 
rich, dry soil to do w.ell. Its only faults are too 
great compactness of bunch, berries frequently 
bursting. Birds generally are very fond of 
theiu. Bees sting the berries and disfigure the 
bunches. It should have good cultivation. 
Diana, a red grape, seedling from Catawba. 
Bunches large, shouldered, compact. Ripens 
with Concord, or 20th September. Quality first 
best. Is a splendid keeper, — can be kept until 
Spring with less trouble, than any other grape 
I know of. It is a superior wine grape, and in 
my estimation better than Delaware, making a 
wine that commands the highest price, and su- 
perior to any Rliiue or Hock wine. It should 
be planted on a light, dry, warm soil or sandy 
loam. Does poorly on heavy soils; should 
not be allowed to overbear when young. Pro- 
ductive and strong grower, as hard3'as Isabella. 
Elsingburgh, a small black grape. Bunch- 
es large and somewhat loose. An excellent 
grape for table. Not suitable for vineyard 
planting on account of its small size. As hardy 
as Isabella. Ripens a few days before Isabella. 
Hartford Prolific. — Ripens early, or about 
Sept. 1. Very productive ; hardy ; quality poor; 
fox}'; should be picked about three-fourths ripe, 
when it will bear shipment better and taste less 
fo.xy than when fully ripe. Not desirable 
where Israella and Creveling can be bad. 
Isabella, is now supplanted by earlier and 
better sorts. There are, however, localities 
where it cau be successfully grown for market 
with profit. It does best on a gravelly soil of 
ordinary fertility I have dug all mine up 
and planted earlier varieties. 
loNA, a red grape. This splendid grape 
ripens same time as Delaware, or September 
15th to 30th, sometimes earlier. Bunches and 
berries large. Quality first best. Some think it 
superior to Delaware, especially those who 
like the Catawba. It is tender and sweet to the 
center, having no toughness or pulp when ripe. 
Is a good keeper, aud will no doubt be one of 
our best grapes for wine. For table it has no 
superior. Is productive, and, so far as I have 
tested it, hardy, h.aving fruited it two years. I 
regarded it so highly that I planted two acres, 
and shall plant two acres more this spring. 
IsR.\j:LL.i, a valuable acquisition to our early 
varieties, combining earliness with good quality, 
and very productive. It cau be kept till spring 
with little trouble. Ripens about Sept. 1, or same 
time as Hartford Prolific. Bunches large, com- 
pact, shouldered. Quality good. Hardy, and 
will no doubt rank as our best early market grape 
when it becomes better known. Very desirable. 
Rebecca. — Vine rather a shy bearer until it 
gets well established. Bunches medium size, 
compact. Quality best. Vine tender and lia- 
ble to sun scald. Suitable for garden ouly. 
Ripens about one week before Isabella. 
Rogers' Hybrid, No. 19. Quality good. 
Productive. Ripens about Sept. 10th. Is a 
good keeper, hard}', and will no doubt prove to 
be a popular market grape. 
Rogers' Hybrid, No. 4, is very similar to No. 
19, but not so early and not so well flavored. 
These two, I think, are the best of the lot of 
Mr. Rogers' hybrids, and deserve a fair trial. 
To Ealon. — Bunches and berries large. 
Quality good. Strong grower. Sometimes rots 
badly.. Requires a good warm soil of moderate 
richness. A desirable grape for garden. Ripens 
a little before Isabella. Jloderately htirdy. 
Union Village. — This grape, when well 
grown oa established vines is the largest, show- 
iest and most beautiful in apiiearance of all our 
native grapes, often producing clusters weigh- 
