THE RURAL, NEW-YORKER 
lOl 
1913. 
STARTING A GRAPE VINEYARD. 
Part I. 
J JI. P., Russellville , Ark .—Tell us about 
crapes. What distance apart are they 
planted, what kind of trellis is mostly used, 
‘vhat style of pruning is mostly in vogue? 
What varieties in back, red and white have 
proven best table varieties? What do the 
pickers use to pick in? After picking how 
long until they must be shipped? When 
shipping car lots in eight-pound baskets 
do they stack up like flats or do they have 
to put in benches, like bushel baskets of 
peaches? Are they mostly consigned to 
commission men or sold on truck? What 
Is a fair average price per pound one year 
with another? When sold to juice factory 
what is the usual price per pound? We 
have a good grape country here but not 
much attention given to this branch of 
fruit growing. 
Quality of Vines. —The selection of 
vines is one of the most important 
phases in starting a vineyard. In many 
cases very little attention is given to the 
grade of roots purchased by reason of 
the inability of the prospective grower 
to judge vines, or else poor vines are 
purchased knowingly because they are 
a little less expensive. A vine pur¬ 
chased because of cheapness is very fre¬ 
quently the most expensive in the end. A 
vineyard started with poor roots is han¬ 
dicapped at the start. Many will die 
outright the first year, and the proba¬ 
bilities are that those that survive will 
make but a poor growth. Seldom if 
ever, can maximum yields be obtained, 
and never in the same period usually 
required for a vineyard set with good 
stock. The prospective grower should 
give more attention to the root growth 
of the stock offered than to the top 
growth. First-grade one-year vines are 
to be preferred to the two-year roots. 
The former are, as a rule, much the 
better in the end. although the latter 
may look the better. In some instances, 
not all, the two-year root represents the 
inferior surplus of the preceding year, 
or those that made a poor growth the 
first year and were left in.the nursery 
row. Most commercial vineyards are 
set with one-year vines and of these the 
first grade ones are to be preferred. 
After the vineyard comes into bearing 
it is impossible to distinguish between 
the one-year or two-year plants, while 
the difference in expense is consider¬ 
able. If one-year No. 1 vines cannot be 
obtained, then use a No. 1 two-year 
plant. Don’t plant a No. 2. Buy your 
plants from reliable nurserymen and 
order early. There is so much differ¬ 
ence of opinion among investigators 
concerning the transmission of disease 
through propagating wood, that no con¬ 
clusions can be reached as to the advisa¬ 
bility of purchasing vines from disease 
free regions. 
Varieties. —The Concord is pre-emi¬ 
nently the commercial grape east of the 
Rocky Mountains. New York, Penn¬ 
sylvania, Michigan and Ohio grow an 
immense tonnage of it. It thrives on a 
great variety of soils and will endure 
much neglect, and, on the other hand, 
it responds to good care. Concord is 
fairly resistant to such diseases as mil¬ 
dew and black-rot, but is very suscepti¬ 
ble to attacks of the grape root-worm. 
In planting the commercial vineyard I 
should plant fully 75 per cent. Concords. 
Moore’s Early is another black grape 
that ripens about 10 days before. Con¬ 
cord. The quality is only fair, and the 
vine is not so vigorous as Concord. It 
does fairly well if pruned rather close 
and medium-sized canes are put up, 
rather than the larger which appear 
more promising. Moore’s Early is a 
good shipping grape. Worden is far 
superior to either Concord or Moore’s 
Early in quality, but is deficient in vigor 
to Concord, and, owing to its tender 
skin, is a poor shipper. It is very de¬ 
sirable for local markets, the cluster 
being large and compact, with very large 
berries. Worden ripens about a week 
earlier than Concord. 
Red Grapes are never in demand to 
the extent that the black are, though 
their quality in general is far superior. 
Catawba should be planted where it will 
thoroughly ripen. It is of good quality 
and a good keeper. Many tons are 
annually put in cold storage and are 
sold far into the Winter. For quality 
Delaware is the grape par excellence, 
and with close pruning and good feed¬ 
ing makes a very profitable grape. The 
season of Delaware is a very little 
earlier than Concord. For green grapes 
Winchell or Green Mountain, as it is 
listed by some nurseryment, should 
more generally be planted. It is a very 
early grape of excellent quality, and a 
good bearer of large, shouldered and 
compact clusters. For markets that 
prefer a green grape, and one ex¬ 
tremely early, Winchell will meet the 
requirements. Niagara needs no rec¬ 
ommendation as a market grape, and 
with proper care, and especially allow¬ 
ing it to ripen fully, it will become even 
more popular. It is particularly liable 
to infestation of black-rot in favorable 
situations and seasons, but this trouble 
can be effectually controlled by the Bor¬ 
deaux mixture. It is also very weak 
in root, and in severe Winters it is 
badly injured. While it is undesirable 
to plant too many varieties, still one 
should plant enough to have some suc¬ 
cession in ripening. It is also very 
desirable to have enough of each variety 
so that they can be shipped in car lots 
if local markets are not close by. A 
few varieties also lessens the possibility 
of total crop failure in any one year, 
for if but .one variety be grown, un¬ 
favorable conditions of weather or in¬ 
sects and diseases might ruin the pros¬ 
pects for the season. 
Poor Pollenizers.— Owing to the fact 
that certain varieties (self-sterile) of 
grapes will not set marketable clusters 
when planted by themselves away from 
other varieties (self-fertile), it is neces¬ 
sary that the prospective grower learn 
whether the varieties he is about to set 
are self-sterile or self-fertile. The va¬ 
rieties mentioned in this article are self- 
fertile, while many of the Rogers hy¬ 
brids, as Lindley, are self-sterile, and 
set poor, loose clusters when planted by 
themselves. 
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FERTILIZERS 
p A Handful of Wilcox Fertilizer 
K Represents more nearly 100% pure plant food than does 
any other substance in the world. You are familiar with 
a “ balanced ration ” for your live stock. Wilcox Ferti¬ 
lizers are “ balanced rations ” for plant life. 
They Are Fertilizers that Fertilize 
They get the young shoots out of the ground in double 
quick time, then properly nourish them until your reward 
is a bumper crop of perfect produce. 
Send for booklet to-day 
THE WILCOX FERTILIZER CO. 
MYSTIC, CONN. 
H O W TO GROW 
AUFflLFfl 
Setting the Vines.— There are many 
recommendations as to distances apart 
for rows and vines. Some of the older 
vineyards are set 10 by 10 feet, but the 
prevailing distances are rows nine feet 
apart with the vines eight feet apart in 
the rows. A more suitable distance 
appears to be 8)4 by eight feet, as 8)4 
feet rows can be gang-plowed with a 
three-gang by going twice in the row, 
and the subsequent tillage with spring- 
tooth and disk can be economically 
done by going once in the row. The 
8)4-foot row readily accommodates the 
fertilizer and seed drill and the manure 
spreader. Many of the newer vineyards 
are being set eight feet by six feet and 
some even eight feet by four feet. In 
the latter case it is the grower’s in¬ 
tention to take out every other vine as 
soon as two or three crops have been 
harvested, or else leave all and put up 
but half the wood per vine that is 
usually put up where they stand eight 
by eight feet. Already one young vine¬ 
yard, to the writer’s knowledge, is on 
the decline by reason of the failure of 
the grower to follow out his good in¬ 
tention of putting up half the wood. 
The first fruiting year two canes per 
vine were put up. A fair crop and 
much wood growth resulted, so the 
grower put up another extra cane the 
following year. The vineyard is now 
making but slight growth and the pro¬ 
duction has fallen off. 
Supports. —Chestnut or locust posts 
are preferred for the trellis. These 
should be from six to eight feet in 
1 ‘ength, depending on the system of 
training used. The heaviest should be 
selected for end posts. After sharpening 
to a tapering point they can be driven 
into holes made with a crowbar. Care 
should be taken to place them so that 
they will line perfectly on the side 
toward the prevailing wind, on which 
side the wire is fastened. A post to 
every three vines is sufficient. The end 
posts are sometimes set in holes dug, 
but they should stand from 20 inches 
to two feet in the ground, whether they 
are set or driven. The end posts should 
be braced by a two by four or a four 
by four that meets the post about mid¬ 
way between the top and the ground. 
The post is notched .to hold it from 
slipping. It then extends obliquely to 
the ground and is. there held by a four 
by four stake, driven into the ground. 
Sometimes a second end post is used. 
These are placed from six to eight feet 
apart. The trellis wires are fastened to 
the second one from the end while the 
last one serves as a brace by wires 
running between it and the true end 
post. A patented post anchor is now 
being used some. It consists of a small 
iron deadman which is driven into the 
ground about two feet behind the end 
post or second post from the end. This 
is driven with wire attached, which is 
then fastened to the post and the slack 
is taken up by twisting the wire on it¬ 
self. The wire should be No. 9 or 
No. 10. The number of wires used 
will be dependent upon the vigor of the 
vines and the system of training used. 
The wires are fastened to the posts by 
ordinary fence staples, but leaving the 
eye open sufficiently so that the wire 
will slide through it readily and thus 
permit tightening. The wire is secured 
to the end post by winding it once 
around the post. Each Spring the trellis 
will have to be gone over and repaired 
and the posts driven. f. e. gladwin. 
ON YOUR FARM OR COUNTRY ESTATE 
Alfalfa permanently enriches the soil in which it grows and yields a sure crop of the finest forage. 
You can grow it on your farm ! But you must meet your particular soil conditions—therefore—we will 
without cost or obligation give you expert advice on the selection of seed—seed bed preparation- 
planting and care necessary to meet your requirements and secure a perfect stand with the aid of 
FARMOGERM INOCULATION 
Standard throughout the world 
Let us tell you of the method of growing Vetch with your spring planting of Oats to increase the Oat crop and 
enrich the soil at the same time. Also how to secure the same results by growing Soy Beans or other legumes with 
your Corn. This is practical information of value to every farmer. 
LAY OUT A PLAN OF flENF.RAL SOIL ENRICHMENT AND FARM IMPROVEMENT FOR THIS 
TEAR—SEND VS PARTICULARS AND LET VS HELP YOU PLAN IT ECONOMICALLY AND EFFICIENTLY 
EARP-THOMAS FARMOGERM CO., Bloomfield, N. J., U. S. A. 
Our New Book No. 54 ready January 1st. Sent free. 
I’ump All the Water Yon Want 
on farm or estate without engine 
trouble or pumping 
expexse. Booklet, plans, 
estimate FREE. 
Rifle Engine Co 2429 Trinity Bldg.. NX 
AMERICAN 
icN /ov 
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?7INGOT IRON ROOFING 
59.84?^^ Money back or a new roof if it de- 
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or repairs required. Our Indemnity Bond pro¬ 
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mg. Write for big illustrated book FREE. 
The American Iron Roofing Co. 
Station II ELYRIA, OHIO. 
Making Concrete Blocks 
in Winter 
Any kind of concrete work can be done satisfactorily 
in cold weather, if proper precautions are taken. Many 
farmers plan to do such jobs in winter, when they have 
more time than later in the season. 
If you contemplate doing any building with concrete, you can 
easily make the concrete blocks now, and erect your structure 
in milder weather. The blocks may be made under shelter 
— without the discomfort of working in the open — and weather 
conditions need not interfere with the work. 
UNIVERSAL 
PORTLAND 
CEMENT 
gives unvarying results in concrete construction. It is uniform in quality, 
strength and color. Booklet containing instructions for doing concrete work 
in cold weather will be sent upon request. 
Write us for help in any kind of concrete work you may want to do. 
Universal Portland Cement Co. 
CHICAGO PITTSBURGH MINNEAPOLIS 
72 West Adams St Frick Building Security Bank Building 
Plants at Chicago and Pittsburgh. Annual Output 12,000,000 Barrels 
