THE JOHN - CRAIG LIBRARY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE NEW YORK STATE COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, MY VINEYARD AT LAKEVIEW. ~ BY Paes ‘ ‘<> A WESTERN GRAPE GROWER. Alpert Nelson Prem Fiss “that NEW-YORK: ORANGE JUDD & COMPANY. 41 PARK ROW. , Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1866, by ORANGE JUDD & CO., eam we At the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New-York. eo » c ta Lovzsoy & Sox, EREOTROTYPERS AND STEREOTYPERS, Ss 15 Vandewator street N. Y. CONTENTS. fon gg I.—THE SUGGESTION..............00ec00es baa bs we «=5 TI.—MAKING A CHANGE.,.......... cc ccce eee cececceeecees % TUT: SGOENG* “WEST ass sce caaay ivi anes iw Gaetan ats aera's sid ea antiele 18 IV-—GETTING SELTLED ysis « sea imeswiees ¢ cord vxenys Sagas vas 21 QUE HOUSE ae fccccaus sicie sore ap Senased Buniocs © genders evpuaie-n eharnuny Baanace 22 vets 2. Fences and Fencing. ...........ccc cece ee cece cere cecace 26 Buying Stocks wass cana say se seas eo eeaes ReNee ee Gams wees 27 Plans for Future Operations,...........cceeeceeeeeeeae 80 Debit and Credit............. cece eee ee eee 34 V.—FIRST EXPERIENCE 385 Book ParMing.....csescee cece en ccc ce eer ec et 36 Planting an Orchard ae. 87 A Glance at other Things...... ‘Se disinmietsle otunds sue wien 44 VI.—NEW EXPERIENCES............ 0.2. ccen cece cere receee 4? A Visit to Hermann. 48 Planting & Vine......... 2 cece ee cece eee cee eee cee eeeee 50 Continued Experience........ cece ccc e eee cece ee eeeee 52 More Encouraging Results.........-... 55 Arriving at a Conclusion............ 0 ce cece cece eee ee 56 VIL—PLANTING A VENEVAND............0 000. ee eee ee ene 57 Definition of Terms 57 Soil and its Preparation ......... 2:06 c eee ee ec eee eeeee 58 Planting and First Year’s Care..... giachare tis. anton a Naat 59 Grape Growing Contagious......... Suwon tear eves eave 61 The Second Year,......-.cccce cece cece cence eee eeenees 62 Making Progress eae Ye 63 The Third Year........ aeons a bide Moye eke SS 64 The Fourth Year...... 0 ..sseeeee cece cece cece rere eees 65 Obviating a Difficulty..........-. cece eee cece ree ee ees 66 The Fifth Year.........0ceee rere cues Giatert ace reise ts 1 vanes 67 Facts aud Figures......0.cesse sees eee rcee neces eeeeeees 68 V1 VUII.—PROPAGATION OF THE VINE IV CONTENTS, IX.—SOILS AND SITUATIONS...... Skee ciiecwie aude ten Hate 81 Wide Adaptation of the Grape............20.eceeee eens 81 Lake Erie Grape Region...........00.:eceee cece eeeeee 82 Pleasant Valley Region....... 85 Importance of Situation...... 86 Protection..........eceeeeee ‘ 87 X.—PREPARATION OF SOILS. 89 Underdraining........... 0 ccc cece e cece eee e ene ce ee tees 90 Deep Tillage. cisisc viroes teeiiy sears seseesaee ee Hees 90 Borders. ......00cseececeeeeeeeeeees XI.—MANURES Packing Fruit ................. Picking for Wine............... Systems of Pruning...........cccceeeeceeeceeeeceeeees TIME Of PYONID SB scst css eto ves cea See eee Effects of Pruning....... Vines without Pruning.......... Training near the Ground Dis@asesiss oe cash aces ween solos sRaias 8 tem Insects XIX.—THE RESPONSE.........cccccecccceesenesees seaeeeneas 141 CHAPTER LI. THE SUGGESTION. * * * “On my way home,” wrote a friend, “ the incidents of my little visit in Lakeview came naturally to mind. The quiet and unostentation, and the evidences of genuine con- tentment which were apparent on every hand, presented pleasant pictures for contemplation. And not least among them was the satisfaction, I might almost say delight, with which you worked among. your vineyards, with their rich treasures of purple fruit. Calling this to mind, and coupling it with your substantial success, the suggestion presented itself, ‘why should he riot make a book giving a record of his experience?’ ‘ Because,’ say you, ‘not au- thorship, but farming is my vocation.’ True; but rheto- ric, and nicely rounded periods, and grand displays of words are not wanted—only a ‘plain, unvarnished tale,’ a simple record of methods and ways; but all the better 6 MY VINEYARD. if occasional glimpses of Lakeview and its surroundings are revealed. ‘ But what are the benefits to be attained ?’ you ask. I know not, surely ; they may be few or many; but are there none who can be guided by your experience to a success equal to your own? As I write these lines, and call to mind your employment and your home, I al- most wish I too had laid aside the rule and stick in the earlier years, and taken up the knife and spade. And even the question comes, ‘Is it now too late?’ Perhaps your ‘record,’ when it reaches me, will afford an answer.” So I pondered the suggestion which my friend had made; and acted upon it when the long winter evenings had come. , MY VINEYARD. % CHAPTER IL. MAKING A CHANGE. Twelve years have passed since I planted my first vine. I commenced under difficulties, and have met with some discouragements. But my labor and perseverance have been well rewarded in the success which I have attained. To be sure, I might have reached the same results in half the time had I commenced with a better knowledge of my subject. Many errors into which I have fallen might have been avoided, and needless expenditures of time and money saved. In looking back upon my experience, I can now see where better methods might have been pur- sued. I can see wherein a little ‘knowledge might have saved many losses, and much discouragement. .The in- formation which would have enabled me to avoid these losses, I believe I can now impart to others. N, othing, it is true, can in any business take the place of experience; but we can frequently, when commencing a new enter- 8 MY VINEYARD. prise, so far avail ourselves of the experience of others as to materially affect the success which we may attain. In making this record of my experience, I disclaim all efforts at fine writing. My only aim will be to give the facts in the case, in the simplest and plainest language I can com- mand. When I first took up rural pursuits as my vocation, I was not altogether unacquainted with the theories and principles which pertain to them. From my boyhood, I have always had a great, fondness for gardening, and all labor incident to country life. When learning my trade in the village printing office, [took great delight in read- ing all the agricultural and horticultural exchanges. My companion apprentice, Bob, as we called him then, always thought it stupid to read papers of that kind, preferring, for himself, to follow up with great care all political con- troversies, and taking great delight at the complete sum- mersaults which expert politicians (in those days) some- times found it conveniént to make. Many of these horticultural publications I took possession of, by permis- sion of the editor, and carefully preserved. I now consider them one of the important features of my little library. All this time I had in mind the picture of a pleasant country home, where I could employ myself in tilling the soil, and could spend the quiet evenings with my books and papers—but not alone. Some one was there who was the light of home. After all; I did not think when MY VINEYARD. 9 looking at this ideal picture that it would ever be realized as it has been, or what a part of my very self that “light ” was to become. I can only feel thankful that a kind fortune has dealt out blessings to me with so liberal a hand. On finishing my trade, and becoming foreman of the office, I found the labor and confinement quite wearing. A short respite from work seemed necessary. Accord. ingly my wife and I, (we had been two years married,) made a week’s visit with some country friends, who were a half day’s journey by rail. The bit of rural life which this visit afforded, only served to recall and brighten up the picture of rural pursuits which I had long since drawn, June was abroad in all her glory. There were bright skies, and green pastures, and rich woods, and broad fields of blooming clover; there were contented cattle, and quiet sheep, and sleek, strong horses ; there were ru- ral sights and sounds on every hand. When we had returned home I proposed to my wife the propriety of changing my employment in the office for that of farming. In our discussions of the subject, we did not forget that there are two sides to country life— that it is not always June. My plan was not to procure a large farm and engage in general farming, but rather to éoutne myself more particularly to fruit-growing, on a moderate sized farm of about forty acres. The prospects 1* 10 MY VINEYARD. looked so encouraging that I concluded to give up my place in the printing office, and try our fortune at farming. Thad no fault to find with my employment in the office. I looked upon the business, and still look upon it, as one of the most honorable in which a man can engage. The newspaper is, and must ever be, the chief educator of a free people. All who engage upon it are worthily em- ployed, be they editor, contributor, or workman. No one can estimate the good which the American press has wrought for the American people. That some portions are bad, does not change the result, as they serve to give force and piquancy to the predominant good. The wages I received were sufficient for the comfortable maintenance of myself and wife. But I could accumulate little to provide against future contingencies. No man can become wealthy by his own labor. Money being merely the representative of labor, the person who accu- mulates, must be able to avail himself of at least a portion of the labor which others perform. If the farmer grows wealthy, it is because, as we may say, nature works for him. He sows the seed and the plant springs forth. He gives it a little attention now and then, but when he is away, or when asleep, the plant works on, perfecting the fruit which he takes to market and sells. The trees in the orchard, the vine in the vineyard, the grain in the field, are all laborers in the employment of the farmer. MY VINEYARD, 11 Having determined upon a change in my vocation, the next thing was to form a plan and carry it into execution. The first efforts in this direction are given in the succeeding chapter, MY VINEYARD, 13 CHAPTER III. GOING WEST. “Where shall we go?” was the practical question which first presented itself. A farm in the vicinity of our native village seemed most desirable, but the prices of those for sale were quite beyond our means. A tide of emigration had long since commenced its flow towards the West. Fabulous stories were rife of the success which former residents of our quiet New England village had achieved. Some had grown rich in farming, others in trade, while others had become distinguished in politics, Little or nothing was heard of those who remained in poverty and obscurity. The inference was, that out West " every one must be prosperous and rich. Nevertheless, uncertain stories of agues and malarious fevers were fre- quently afloat. But they were usually as indefinite as the region to which they referred.- After a careful considera- tion of the subject, taking into account our means and the 14 precise objects we had in view, the most appropriate an- swer to the question which commences this chapter seemed to be to “go West.” So I made a journey into that new and prosperous region to look us out a home. And new, indeed, did I find it, new in appearance, as also new in the ways, and notions, and practices of the people. In my search for a place, I first visited such of. my ac- quaintances as had already moved to the western country. This took me into several of the most prosperous States, and afforded me views of widely diversified scenery. The prairie regions were less attractive than I had anticipated. Although teeming with inexhaustible agricultural wealth, there was a monotony in the appearance of the prairies not attractive to one life-long accustomed to rocks and hills. The consideration of a healthful locality was a prom- inent one in my investigations. But it was a curious fact, that I could find no place which the people considered as particularly unhealthy, although neighboring localities were quite objectionable as regarded their sanitary condi- tion. In Pekin they had the ague and fevers but seldom, but over in Sebastopol they had it almost continually. Arriving in Sebastopol, the people thought their region quite healthful—that they hardly ever had any ague; but over in Pekin they had it about all the while. I also ob- served that nearly every one was ready to sell out, not to return East again by any means, but to “go West.” This readiness to move did not arise from any dislike to MY VINEYARD. 15 . the country, but from a habit which the great mass of American people have got into, a habit which increases in prevalence the further West we go. This continual desire for a change of place, I consider as productive of bad results. When one is continually «expecting to move, he does not take that pains to make his home pleasant and comfortable, which he otherwise would. He does not like to plant trees, and flowers, and fruit, when there are no probabilities of his reaping the rewards of his labor. Thus it is that the homes of the people present so few appearances of comfort and beauty. When the American people learn a little contentment, when they begin to make for themselves homes which are to be theirs, and for their enjoyment, then will our fair land begin to blossom as the rose. . In regard to the relative health of East and West, I may state here as the result of many years of observation and experience, that in the main, neither region has any ‘perceptible advantage over the other. In choosing a home, I did not lose sight of a purpose which I had always entertained of having it near a body of water. No other advantage of beauty can compensate for the loss of a water view. The angry tumult amid the storms I do not so much admire; but the calm serenity at the twilight hour, especially in the golden October days, imparts a serenity of mind which exerts a lasting . and benificent influence upon all the affairs of life. 16 MY VINEYARD. : One pleasant September afternoon, I found myself in a small village in Northern Ohio, waiting until the next morning for a conveyance to take me to some relatives who were living a few miles away. Rather liking the ap- pearance of the country, I asked the landlord if any farms were for sale in the vicinity. + How large a farm do you want ?” “Only a small one of about forty acres.” “Wall, there’s plenty of farms for sale, but you don’t find many of that size. Guess Smith down on the shore has one that'll about suit you.” So I obtained the requisite directions for finding Smith, down on the shore, and set out to find him, A mile walk brought me to a place answering to the description. I was fortunate in finding Mr. Smith at home. “Walk in, stranger, and have a chair,” was the not in- hospitable salutation. “J don’t wish to make a long stop. I only came to look at your place, as I understand you want to sell ?” “T reckon I wouldn’t refuse if I could get my BHoes Where might you hail from, stranger ?” ' “ Connecticut.” “Wall, I came from Southern Injanny.” “* How long have you been here?” “ A right smart spell—going on nigh two years.” “Don’t you like the country ?” MY VINEYARD. 17 ““Yaas. But there’s no use always staying in one place. Setting hens never get; fat.” “Which way do you want to go?” “ Out to Hlinoy.” ; . “How many acres have you here?” ; “ T-bought it for forty ;-but the point running into the lake on the west side, makes it a little more.” We went out to look at the farm, The land gradually sloped to the lake. The shore was high, except in one place where it dipped down to the water’s edge. The soil was mostly a clayey loam, Near the road was a small portion of heavy clay. Towards the point was some lower land with black, mucky soil. The house was a log cabin of comfortable size and appearance. It was sur- rounded by scattering trees of large size—mostly oak and chestnut. An effort at flower-raising was visible in the front yard. A vegetable garden exhibited a profusion of luxuriant weeds. A hovel covered with straw afforded shelter for a cow and a pair of horses. Some pigs and poultry seemed to have the freedom of the place. A wil- derness of mingled raspberry and blackberry bushes clambered over a portion of the division fence. There were a few peach trees, turf-bound, but appearing vigorous. About ten acres of woods occupied the western side of the place, and extended to the point. There were a half doz- en acres of meadow, and as many more where the young wheat was just making its appearance. There was a large MY VINEYARD. 19 “How much for yours ?” “Twenty-five dollars an acre.” “Free from incumbrance ?” ‘¢Mortgaged for five hundred dollars.” “When due ?” “'Two years yet to come.” “T will take the place.” Within two days all necessary papers were drawn, and I became owner of the farm. I paid Mr. Smith five hun- dred dollars for his interest in the place. The mortgage for an equal amount was held by a man in the village. As five hundred dollars was all that I could spare from my little capital of a thousand, I considered it fortunate that a part of the purchase price could remain on mort- gage. On returning home, I described to my wife as fully as possible the place I had purchased, “We shall make a beautiful home of it,” said she. I asked her to give it a name. “Lakeview,” was the response. And by this name it has since been known to us and our immediate friends. ea MY VINEYARD. 21 CHAPTER IV. GETTING SETTLED. The ‘eae of October found us at Lakeview with all our household goods. The house had been vacated by Mr. Smith, and he was already on his way to Illinois. We at once set about making such repairs and changes as our taste suggested or our means allowed. We did not propose to go into extensive repairs. But a few im- provements seemed desirable. In no better way can we give a strange place a home-like appearance, than by put- ting forth personal efforts to adapt it to our minds, Eyv- ery change, which increases our comforts, brings with it a new attachment to home.