A Horticultural Handbook (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1900. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER VU. THE GKAPE. This is one of the oldest and best fruits of south Europe, but the good old varieties only succeed on our west coast. Our favorite varieties are selections from, or crosses with, our native species. A good amateur selection for the prairie states would be, Moore's Early, Cottage, Worden, and Concord: But by covering in winter, and mingling with the above varieties, the amateur can grow some of the choicer varieties, such as Brighton, Lindley, and Lady, including at the north the Delaware. Best Soil.--Dry upland soil gives firmest growth of wood and the best fruit, but if the home site is on lower, richer soil, such varieties as Moore's Early, Cottage, and Worden, will do well if the soil is tiled or given surface drainage by ridging up the line of the rows. Distance Apart.--With the renewal system vines may be planted in rows running north and south 9 feet apart, with spaces between the rows of 8 feet. But with longer experience many are now planting ten feet apart both ways, to give more room for root extension and to let the sun in to warm the earth, which the grape needs to ripen the fruit perfectly. Plant Deep.--All experience now favors deep planting. If vines are planted twenty inches deep they will develop roots to the surface and the lower roots will sustain the vines if the top ones are root killed in winter. The lower roots should be 18 inches deep. But these deep holes are not filled at once. At first cover firmly about two inches above the upper roots. After the vines begin growth, fill up gradually, filling the holes by the middle of July. Training and Pruning.--The first year it is quite as well to let the vines grow as they will, laying on the ground. As a rule they are not much in the way of cultivation, and they rip...