THE SOUTHERN CULTIVATOR. 
21 
'raiE GKAIPE 
[F.om the North Carolina Farmer.] 
THE VINE NURSERY, PREP.4RATORY TO BE- 
GINNING A VINEYARD. 
Mr. Lem^y To start well is of the first 
importance in any bastness, and. ol agriculture 
especially. In most treatises on vine culture it 
is recommended to begin a vineyard by planting 
out cuuiiigs, and not unfrequent.ly this plan 
is attended with much unavailing labor and 
discouragement. Alter all the preparation ol 
ground and the like, many of ihe cuttings olten 
do not vegetate, and, if a dry season ensue, 
those that sprout frequently die. At least this 
was my experience some seventeen years since. 
And out of 301) ^'cupoernong cuttings that 
sprouted well in the spring, but bare one was 
alive in the lall. I had not then the knowledge 
that this kind ot grape very rarely succeeds by 
cuttings in any sort of season. The way ol 
propagating the Scuppernong is by layers, or 
that ol burying some of the sprouts grown from 
the lowest part of the vine. The spring is the 
best time, so soon as .sprouts start say a foot or 
so long. Cover with earth so as to leave the 
end of the sprout out a lew inches. In the tall 
they will be found to have small roots attached; 
and with any mots, however small, a Scupper- 
Jiong vine voill surely grow, if transplanted 
with proper care. But my plan, to prepare 
them for making a bearing vineyard speedily, 
is to cultivate them in the nursery, s,ay one, two 
or three years after detaching them from the 
parent stocks. Vines thus prepared fur a vine- 
yard, if properly transplanted and cultivated 
with common care, bear some the first season 
in the vineyard, and pretty well the second. So 
my own experience, and so that of others, as I 
am informed by purchasers in different parts of 
the country whither sent. 1 propagate other 
sorts of vines by layers also. But my usual 
mode with others or most others is by cuttings, 
as follows: 
In ground previously put in order, I run deep 
furrows three feet apart, and therein, slantwise, 
I place cuttings a foot or so long, and a few 
inches only apart in the furrow. After the cut- 
tings thus placed and one end stuck into the bot- 
tom of the furrow a little, and the other end left 
so high as not to be quite covered, 1 run a fur- 
row along side to cover them nearly. And, 
with a little adjusting with a hoe perhaps, the 
planting is finished. The afterculture is, to 
keep the ground clean and loose. If the above 
be done in the fall most of the cuttings sprout and 
live ; but if some die, there are still enough ge- 
nerallv to have a well set nursery. If found 
too thick, some, or say every other one, ma^’’ be 
removed after the first season’s culture. But 
from my nursery I keep thinning out to suit 
the call of customers. For, as my price varies, 
say Irom 15 to 75 cents each, according to age, 
size and number taken by one remittance and 
order, dilferent persons choose small as well as 
large rooted vine.? ; and I add, others take cut 
lings only at their low rate to make their own 
nursery as preparatory for a vineyard. 
As American vines are perfectly hardy, no 
need of any such trouble as laid down in Euro- 
pean treatise.s; such as coveringand uncovering 
buds in the spring lor fear of frosts and the like. 
In shoit, I have revealed my secret of vine nur- 
sery business, for as manv to rival me therein 
as choose. And for the encouragement for 
others to do this, I name that I have reason to 
be grateful to a generous public lor patronage 
in my nursery business generally and vines in 
particular. Most in my vicinity have small 
vineyards through my means. O.ae near neigh- 
bor, fir instance, from two Scuppernong vines 
only put in the edge of the garden some years 
since, and thence spreading branches over trees 
in a grove, has abundance of grape (ruit. Ano- 
ther neighbor from a few vines made fOO gal- 
lons of wine last season at my pre.sses. I box 
up vines with damp saw du-i^t or moss and send 
thena with entire success to all oarts of the Uni- 
ted States. For instance, by Norfolk and New 
Orleans, I serit winter before last, a bo.x to 
Nalches, State of Missis>ippi, qnd the , gentle- 
mar. remitting for them wrote to me they did 
finely; and added, that a bottle or so ot my 
Scuppernong Champaigne wine, as he called it, 
(sent with the vines.) was pronounced fi.^st-rate 
by good judges of w’ine there. 
I am aware, M. Editor, that the foregoing are 
very desultory observations; but perhaps not 
the worse on ihat account, if clearly unlolding 
the ideas intended. Indeed, i would say to fel- 
low agriculturists, inclined to throw in their 
mite of experience and inlormation as I do tor 
your useful print, to write just as their thoughts 
flow, and not be discouraged, because they had 
not time or perhaps scholarship to make a po- 
lished style of it; and if any bad grammar or 
bad spelling occurs, why you are the very one 
to make all correct, as far as requisite, by your 
long thorough experience as an Editor. 
* -if * * * * * 
OUTLINE OF AN AMERICAN VINEYARD FROM 
ITS BEGINNING. 
The following brief outline is the result ot 
much reading on the subject and some years of 
observation and experience. If it proves of 
any service to you in your praiseworthy object 
of raising the standard of Agriculture in our 
State, and to any readers of the “ Farmer” to 
enable them to speedily have a vineyard to their 
entire satislaclion, my object is attained in pen- 
ning it. 
1. R,eject all kinds of foreign vines as well 
as all servile imitation of foreign modes of cul- 
tuie and wine making. 
2. Thus unirammelled with foreign treatises 
on vine culture, as that of ouilitig dowm to so 
many joints ann ually and keepin.g the vines 
humble and 'he like; you must also reject, in 
your choice of American or native vines, all 
not pretty ihoroughly tested by experience to be 
free from the tantalizing propensity (wdiether 
young or old,) to rot or The like, as do foreign 
ones. 
3. Of kinds known to be excellent in most or 
all resp.ecis, take those well rooted, or of some 
two or three years standing in the nursery, if 
you vri.?h your vineyard to forthw'ith begin to 
bear and go ahead in expanding its branches 
over seafioiding American fashion. 
4. As to soil, site, or the like, (so much dwmlt 
upon in some treatises on vine culture,) I con- 
sider them unimportant, if the situation be dry 
enough and no! too rich. More clanger as to 
vines not bearing well from the ground being too 
rich than too poor. Any kind of soil I find 
will do, if properly managed. My vineyards 
all fl()Uii5h and bear well, though on six acres 
ot diverse description, as from the hardciayey 
to the very light sandy soil. If land will bring 
good corn it will do well for vines. 
5. But you must have the site of your intend- 
ed vineyard in good clean order. Then in the 
lall or spring excavate wuth the plow, or other- 
wise, holes say every 20 feet each way for Scup- 
pernorg, and 10 for other vines, and plant as 
you w'ould fruit trees, with a stake north side a 
few inches from each vine. It the ground be 
sufficiently rich, surface earth alone throwm 
into the hole, say half i'uif of two feet deep, ere 
planting the vine, will do; otherwise, partly 
filled with manure and earth on top of that to 
prevent the roots coming in contact vrith the 
manure, and con.sequent danger of vines dying 
by dry weather the first season. 
6. Trim in summer or fall merely to train one 
or t'vo main stems (without laterals and un- 
checke.l as to length,) to the stakes for, say two 
or three sea.sons, or till time to put in posts of 
oak or lightwood every 10 feet to support the 
rails or scantling for the canopy over which the 
vines to expand, ever after untrimmed, except 
as to any straggling lateral branches that might 
prevent a free passage of air or team; or say 
.•ill clear beneath, except the posts, lor 6 or 8 
feet high under the canopies. 
7. No part of the year are weeds or grass to 
appear in your vineyard, if you wish it to flour- 
ish and bear well. But especially just before 
and after hard frosts in the fall, must 'he ground 
underneath the canopies be well scarified, that, 
acccording to native plan ot Jertilizing the 
woods, no leaves or other litter mav blow or 
wash away, but all be incorj orated with the 
soil, as the very best substitute for other manur- 
ing. However, instead of thus doing, in some 
parts ot my vineyards, I cover underneath the 
canopies with a t.hick coating of pine straw to 
prevent ail undergrowth. 
8. Some small matters, and 1 have done this 
off-hand piece, in plain, if not rough style, now 
longer than at first intended. 
1. As to posts, they should be charred or 
burnt as to parr in and a little above the earth, 
and put into theground with the little end down 
or inverted as to the part upwards in the tree, to 
cause them to last longer; the squared end of 
the upper part of the post to have a clete or 
shingle nailed on each side to keep the scantling 
fast. 
2. As fo mode of inserting posts, I do it in a 
wet time, with what we call a jobber^ or piece 
ol wood, say three feet long, sharpened at one 
end and near the other square end a round stick 
or piece of iron put through a large auger hole, 
with which and by a crowbar or strong slake, 
the jobber may be raised out of the ground af- 
ter having been driven in by a maul or beetle. 
Some jobbers have long handles (or drawn off’ 
at one end,) to enlarge the holes, if necessary, 
ere the posts are inserted. 
3. As to inserting other posts, when first pul 
are giving way, or becoming too short bj let- 
ting down after the end in the ground rotting off 
it may he done at any time by forking up the 
scaffolding. 
4. As to lies for fastening up the vines to the 
slakes when young, nothing betier than strips ot 
elm bark I find. The elm bark may begot in 
the spring, and at any time in summer ; when 
soaked an hour or two, is fit for use. The 
slripsolthis hark will outlast any strings 1 
have ever tried, and are very convenient. 
5. For thin strips of wood" to lay on the rails 
or scantling farsupporting the canopy branches 
of vines, any lasting wood will do; but cypress 
orcedtfr, as light, is best, vrhen conveniently pro- 
cured. In fact, a'ter the vine branches are 
well spread, very little support other than the 
scantling (10 feet apart) is required. 
In haste, yours, &c , with all due respect, 
Sidney Weller. 
BnnUcyville, Halifax Co., N. C, Sept. 25, 1845 
Fine Cotton, 
We publish the following letter for the par- 
pose of showing the spirit of rivalry which rx- 
ists among our planting friends in the produc- 
tion ol fine cotton. We were shown the sample 
alluded to below, and so far as we are capable 
of judging, itishard to beat. 
„ „ "Valley Farm, Nov. 27, 1845. 
C. R. Woods, Esq.— Dear Sir.— Your letter 
of the 26th, with New Orleans price current, ot 
the 19th, has been received, tor the same accept 
my thanks. With this, I send a sample ot my 
be.'-t Cottons, although the sample is not as good 
as one I put up for Mr. Young, which 1 request- 
ed should be shown you, as it was taken from 
the top of the cotton, as in bulk; I think, though, 
in a few more days ginning, lean better each ot 
these sam.ples. Please let me know under what 
classification it will come on the same board 
with my friend’s, Col. Mc.Donald. I will put 
up about thirty bales of this kind. There is 
something in preparing a sample of cotton for 
exhibition, to make it appear extra, which Ida 
not understand. These are w'rapped up, with- 
out any pressing, &c. as taken from the gin, in 
order that they may be a fair sample of wfiat is 
in the bale. 
Fur all this pains in cotton, and really the 
improvement is very gieat, we are indebted to 
Col. M ?D. It will, in the end, I tru-st, make our 
port rank with Mobile. 
Respectfully, yours, &c. John H. Dent. 
There^are 140 different species of oak in the 
world — 70 of which are found in America and 
30 in Europe. The oak will live GOO years. 
