14,2 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[APRlt,. 
est degree of cultivation is given it. It is al- 
most always grown as a second crop ; that is, it 
is planted between the spring crop of early beets 
and cabbages, after they have been sown or 
planted, in the following manner. The sets, or 
small roots, are taken from the main root, at 
the time of digging the crop, and prepared in 
lengths of from five to seven inches ; they are 
cut as in figure 1, the lower end with a slope, so 
that it can readily be distinguished at planting. 
These sets are tied in convenient bundles and 
kept in boxes of sand, in a cool cellar, or in a 
pit. 
Fig. 1. — HOHSEKADISH SET. 
These are planted between the rows of 
beets or cabbages, (which are set two feet apart,) 
at a distance of 15 inches between each plant. 
In planting, a hole is made with a light crow- 
bar, and the set of Horseradish dropped in deep 
enough for its top to be two inches under the 
surface ; planted thus deeply, it does not usually 
grow much, until the crops of beets or cabbages 
have been marketed ; but should the tops grow, 
so as to interfere with the summer crop, they 
are hoed off; we have often done this twice in 
a season, without any injury to the Horseradish 
crop. The main growth and development of 
the root being made during the late summer and 
fall months, the cutting off of the leaves that 
first start, in a plant of this vigorous nature, is 
of no injury. There is but little further labor 
required with it. After cabbages are off, the 
stumps are dug up, and the plow is run through 
between the rows of the Horseradish, which 
soon grows luxuriantly enough to crowd down 
weeds of any kind. The crop is dug up during 
the late fall or winter months, and meets a ready 
sale to those who manufacture it. It is prepared 
for market by removing the green tops and the 
small roots, "which last are 
preserved, for next season's 
planting. The roots are 
preserved in pits, and when 
wanted for market are wash- 
ed, and sold by weight. Fig. 
2 shows a root as ready for 
market, much reduced in size. 
It has thus far been a most 
profitable crop, and always 
a safe one, for its hardy na- 
ture renders it free from the 
risk of injury from frost, 
which attends many other 
vegetables we cultivate. On 
the highly cultivated 
grounds on which it is 
grown, it yields a large profit 
—from 12,000 to 15,000 roots 
are grown on an acre, which 
average I of a pound each. Prices have rang- 
ed, during the past twenty years, from $100' 
to $200 per ton. Even at the minimum rate, it 
will be seen that it averages from $500 to $600 
per acre. Those who retail it in our markets, 
usually supply it in the ground or grated state. 
They have a mill, or rather a revolving grater, 
against which the washed and scraped roots are 
pressed, and rapidly reduced to a condition fit 
for the table. Figure 3, on preceeding page, 
shows a common form of the grater, which 
works by a treadle, and is boxed in. The 
grater consists of a sheet of tin in which rough 
holes are punched. A similar machine is used 
by these who put Horseradish up in bottles 
with vinegar. We do not know where these mills 
are sold, but any ingenious mechanic can make 
a revolving grater, which is all that is required. 
Preparing Trees for Removal. 
Messrs. Bidwell Brothers, St. Paul, Minn., 
from whom our readers have had valuable sug- 
gestions on other rural subjects, give their 
method of treating trees that are to be removed 
from their native localities. While the plan is 
not altogether new, it is none the less worthy of 
being followed : 
" So common has become the practice of sot- 
ting out trees resembling bean poles, that the 
more valuable kinds are in a great measure 
neglected, aud of these few kinds set out as 
shade trees, nearly half are lost for want of skill 
in transplanting. ~By the plan we recommend, 
the longer lived and slower growing kinds are as 
readily transplanted as the others, and if fol- 
lowed will result in our having a greater variety 
of shade and ornamental trees. 
" As soon as the frost is out of the ground in 
the spring, select the trees to be removed, and, 
if necessary, clear away around them to give 
them the full benefit of sun and air. In selecting, 
avoid crolched trees, and all deformed ones. 
With a fine saw and sharp knife, trim the tree 
into shape, removing all superfluous or dead 
limbs, then with a sharp spade dig a circular 
trench around the tree, of such diameter as to 
cut off all the leading roots. After the roots 
have been cut by the spade, smooth the ends 
with the knife, after which fill up the trench. 
The tree is to be allowed to remain where it 
stands until the following fall or spring, when 
it may be removed. The tree will be found to 
have made a fine growth of limbs and amass of 
fibrous roots, and if transplanted with care to 
injure neither top nor roots, and mulched after 
removal, it will well repay the extra trouble." 
♦-« —Eta ^ - 1 ^ 
Notes on Grapes and Grape Culture. 
Our estimate of the importance of grape cul- 
ture may be inferred from the space we give to 
it. We endeavor to keep the readers of the 
Agriculturist advised as to progress in this 
branch, and to give them the status of vari- 
eties in different parts of the country. To do 
this involves a great deal of travel, and a care- 
ful reading of the reports of the horticultural 
gatherings that we are unable to attend, besides 
any amount of " grape talk" with those who visit 
us. All this is pleasant, but there is another side. 
There are those, who, if we express a favora- 
ble opinion of a variety, seem to think we are 
unduly favoring the grower or growers thereof, 
as if .we did not know a man from a grape vine. 
These notes, as well r.s all other articles, are 
written solely fey the benefit of the readers of 
the paper, and if arry grower of vines or other 
plants, breeder of animals, or inventor of ma- 
chines derives any benefit because we think well 
of an article he has on sale, so much the better 
for him. We try to make these grape notes 
without prejudice and without any reference to 
anything but grapes. We sometimes have made 
a judgment on specimens from young vines, 
that we have had cause to modify. In this way 
we have spoken disparagingly of Roger's Hy- 
brids as a class, but with last year's experience 
we gladly admit that several of the numbers of 
which we had fruit, from old vines, give promise 
of value, and we shall watch them the present 
year with a great deal of interest. In an article 
last month we showed the different estimation 
in which the Concord was held by people resid- 
ing in the same town, and in almost every 
meeting of fruit-growers we find a similar con- 
flict of opinion ; and not only are certain varie- 
ties denounced, hut the persons who introduced 
them, or advocated them, come in for a share 
of condemnation. The following notes are from 
Dr. C< J. May, Hancock County, 111., whose arti- 
cle is too long to allow us to groduce it entire. 
His views of the Concord were given last month : 
"The vineyards are mostly on the bluffs, 
which rise from three to four hundred feet above 
the river, and extend about four miles back to the 
prairie. The vineyard region is about thirty 
miles in length. The exposure most generally 
chosen is the south, southeast and east, though 
some are in ground inclining towards the north. 
There seems to be very little difference in the 
success, except that those vineyards facing south 
aud east ripen their fruit a few days earlier 
than those that have a northern exposure. 
The Catawba was first planted, and probably 
nine-tenths of all vines to-day are of that variety. 
Here the Catawba seems to find all that is neces- 
sary for it to produce its best results, the vines 
constantly bearing crops of fruit and ripening 
so thoroughly that we are usually able to let the 
fruit intended for wine remain on the vine six 
weeks after it is in good condition for market. 
It is then, of course, so well ripened that its hard 
acid center nearly disappears, and is in condi- 
tion to make as good a wine as the Catawba 
is capable of making under the most favorable 
conditions. No where in our country does the 
Catawba reach a higher perfection than here, in 
no place is it more free from disease, and of 
course other varieties do equally well. 
I have one hundred Delaware vines that bore 
their second crop the past season, averaging 
twelve pounds to the vine. They all ripened their 
wood and fruit perfectly, and there is a prospect 
of their bearing even a larger crop next season. 
This is no more than others have done in all 
parts of our count}'-, wherever good vines have 
been planted and well cared for. But this is 
undoubtedly too large a crop per vine for so 
many vines to the acre as I have planted, though 
they seem now well able to carry it. Eight 
pounds per vine will afford enough profit to 
satisfy the largest desires. 
The Delaware is with us a very rapid growing 
vine, provided good plants are used ; comes into 
bearing early, and sets more fruit than it should 
be permitted to carry; especially while the vines 
are young each cane will generally have four 
bunches, but not more than three should be 
suffered to remain. Planted four feet apart in 
rows, and the rows six feet apart, the trellis may 
be all covered and the vines in full bearing the 
third season with us, without apparent injury to 
the vines from haste. If planted at greater dis- 
tances in the rows, longer time for covering the 
trellises will be required and more thinning. 
The Iona is another variety of which too 
much cannot be said in its favor. I procured 
vines of Dr. Grant in the spring of 1864 These 
vines made a large growth the season of plant- 
ing, showing no sign of disease — there was not a 
spot of mildew on any of them. The canes in 
the fall were cut hack to eighteen inches, and 
the next season (that of '65) all the vines set 
fruit, and were permitted to carry from four to 
six clusters each, though I knew so much fruit 
would impair any variety of grape on vines so 
young, yet I could not wait. Though this was 
the season which damaged the Catawba so 
badly, }'et the fruit on these young vines showed 
not a sign of rot, neither did the foliage mildew ; 
and here I may say neither did the Delaware. 
The fruit ripened abdlrt the first of September, 
and was of superior quality^the clusters were 
large and perfect. I this year^grew two canes 
