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Fragment Tallying Votes on Particular Locations, undated
Grape Cultivation Questionnaire Completed by D H Schroder, undated
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Please State, as much in detail, as may be convenient, on this paper,
I. The varieties of Grapes you seem best adapted to Piedmont & Virginia,- 38 [?] at, - 15 to 20 miles from Blue-Ridge range of mountain.
1. For the Market. [Harlford?] Prolific, Delaware, Catawba Diana, Concord, Iona, Israella Got Edel.
2. For Wine. Norton Virginia, Ives Seedling Catawba [Herbemot?], Perkins
II. The number of plants [proper?] to be set on an acre, especially of concord, Delaware, & Diana, respectively. 6 feet in the row and rows 8 feet apart in best 1000 parts to an acre = all.
III. The Expense, per acre, of planting & cultivating Concord and Delawares, (for example), respectively, and the Income likely to arise from each, (making the layout Estimate of Expense, & least of Income) for each recessive year, until they come into full bearing.
Concords-per Acre
1st year. Expense. the extra selected plants or best 2 years are best and in the End the deepest to plant the Second year they begin to bear & have plenty Wood & Cuttings. 1000 best Vines extra or 2 years only 100 Dollars. Planting & Preparing land 30 doll. Cultivating even 20 Doll. in all $ 650.00.
Delawares,- per Acre. 1st Year. Expense.
1000 best Vines [only?] good best select Vines or 2 years old good should be used is your Climate for Planting 1000 each Vines $200.00 [?] [ch?] see. Concord . 50.00 $250.00
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Concords-per Acre
2d year if nothing grown between the rows the fruit Cuttings will pay for the [attendance?].
3L year about 500 Dollars clear profit
4th year. about 7 to 800 dollars Profit.
Delawares- per Acre.
as Concord
about 200 Doll Profit.
4th years as Concord
Norton Virginia Cost same as Delaware but will pay 1000 Dollars an acres the 4d year and so on.
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IV. The best fertilizers for Grapes; the Quality proper to be used per acre; and how applied.
The best is to sow Veatch, Peas or Clover the 4th year in [later?] of the rows. Mow the grass or Veath or Peas and put it for decay around the [Stems?] or around the Vines, in 2 years Plow Clover under and sow again.
V. Whether, upon the whole, Grapes for the Market or for Wine, would be more profitable;- Baltimore being distant about 8 hours;- Philad a 13 to 25 hours; N York 21 to 45 hours.
You should plant all the Varieties Named as you have them in all Collars & early or late in the list for Market but Every one of these grapes will make Wine. But be sure to [plant] [plants]. Norton Virginia, Toes Seedling & Catawba for Wine in order to have money in Winter & Spring
Vi. How often, on the average, cups will be liable to fail; every 11 years we have a poor crop to pay [Expenses?] 1. To fail brutally- in 20 years.
2. To fail partially,- & to what proportionate entent. Every 5 years by Hail in this latitude Every 11 years by frosts.
Vii. Whether sugar (grape or cane), or any foreign ingredient will be requisite to convert the juice of the grape into marketable wine, & if to what & how much.
In your Section the addition of Sugar is not necessary as you have good warm Fall weather and let the grapes hang long on the Vines.
In Cold & wet Summers you have to use perhaps 1/2 to 3/4 [?] of Cane Sugar for Gallon and 1 [quart?] of Water to Each Gallon to desolve the acid. Grape Sugar is better. You can make them at 10 cts per [1b?] [out?] of Potatoes 50 cts per Buskel.
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VIII. At what interval of time, after it comes from the press, the wine- product is fit for market,- and the range of prices.
You can sell the Wine in March & April next. Say Concord $2.00 per Gallon Catawba 1.50. Delaware & Ives Seedling & Norton Virginia at 4 Doll per gallon, but 1 count it only in Profits 1.50 per gallon. Perkins even brings 5 per gallon so Herbert.
Ix. The cost per acre, of gathering the vintage, {for} & getting it ready for shipment, 1. For Market. is most pleasure and about 10 Doll per acer.
2. For Wine- (including whole cost of manufacture). about 5 cts a gallon of Wine by the quantity or 35 Doll per acres
X. Any other desirable information, [touching?] Grape culture.
Avoid Cold places, wet spring water grounds Plow deep, plant deep have a farrow on each Side of the roows in order to drean and plant Varieties mostly I dit nauce for year. Do not condemn Catawba try my Neco System and you will thank me once.
Plant the best vines, never plant Vines started in Hot Beds or Green Houses from single Eys, the [Sickness is in them Do not belive every Advertiser with his cheap Vines, plant the Children of mothers brest or Nature. Never plant Norton Virginia & Delaware vines otherwise than the one old wood layer or from superior Start Cutting
[?] from Dr H. Schroder
Bloomington see;
Grape Cultivation Questionnaire Completed by Thomas Ashby, undated
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Please State, as much in detail as may be convenient, on this paper,-
I. The varieties of Grapes best adapted to Piedmont Virg.
1. For the Market-- Concord- [Hailford's?] Prolific, Calawba. [Ives.?] Delaware
2. For Wine. Ives. Nortons Virginia, Calawba, Delaware. Diana. Iona
II. The number of plants proper to be set on an acre, especially of Concord, Delaware, & Diana respectively.
4 feet by 4 feet-- 2729 vines per acre 6 " " 6 " -- 1742 " " " 8 " " 8 " -- 680 " " " 10 " " 10 " -- 430 " " "
III. The Expense, per acre, of planting & cultivating. concords and Delawares (for example), respectively, and the Income likely to arise from each, (making the largest Estimate of Expense & least of Income for each successive year until they come into full bearing.
Concords- per Acre 1st Year. Expense.
The ground having been properly prepared - $5.00 or $6.00 will pay for setting the roots upon an acre 7 by 7 feet. If close it will cost more. If wider apart, less- Three good ploughings the first year, with two working with the hoe- in clearing the grass & weeds from the hills will do-- The tillage after 2nd years- especially near the vines had better be done with the hoe the [?] might bear a shallow ploughing [?] their middle - so as not to disturb
Delawares- per Acre. 1st Year- Expense.
The cuttings from the vines, will be worth the ex pense of cultivation, taken off the vines of the 'Ives Iona's Delawares & Concords- to those desiring to propagate- that's a branch of the business, however, not suited to every person.
Letter from Ashby to Minor re grape cultivation, 18 December 1867
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Front Royal Va. Decemb. 18. 1867
Jno. B. Minor Esq.
Dear Sir,
Your favour of the 16th inst covering several interrogatories upon the subject of grape [cultivation?] was recd by mail of yesterday evening; and I take pleasure in responding to the same as fully as my information upon that interest will allow. Let one premise, by informing you that I am comparatively a new beginner, and as yet have but a small patch, not deserving the name of vineyard - My relative M. B. Buck Esq. who resides within a few miles of this place has given much attention to the grape, and now has some 30 or more acres devoted to them - and is preparing for enlarging his plantings. A letter addressed to him, would receive his attention, and his opinions, being more practical than mine, would be more valuable, and you might implicitly rely upon his statements - I take the liberty of sending you one of his cards.-
For marketing - or selling by weight in boxes or bunches. I would name the Concord, Hailford Prolific, [Catawba] & Ives - The roots of each can be had at prices ranging from $250.00 to $300.00 pr thousand.
For Wine - Ives, Norton's Virginia, [Catawba] Delaware, Diana, Iowa,
There are many other varieties, which are recommended by their respective friends, and are no doubt good grapes - but as yet, have not been tested in our locality - The [Catawba, Ives, ] Concord, Norton's Va. have proven themselves - The Delaware which in one of the most popular grapes for the table as well as for Wine - has not done so well here as some of the others - It is a delicious grape, but considered tender & a delicate [bearer].
More attention is now being given to the Concords, Ives, [Catawabas?] & Nortons Virginia - These are good enough for our purposes - The Iowa may be added to the list, though as yet that grape has not fruited here.
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Some few vines have been planted, and another year may give us fruit.
The number of plants proper to be set on an acre, will of course depend upon the distance between the vines - Circumstances must control that - If the Vintager has but little land &high price, he will be justified in crowding the vines closer than if the reverse should be the case - Nearly every one will have his own ideas & be governed by different reasons in setting his plants - The thrifty vigorous growers such as the Concords & Ives, require more room than would the Delawares or Rebeccas - The better rule to observe will be to give room, and in for- ming a vineyard have a pass way at convenient distances for carts or waggons to convey off the fruit, as well as to supply the land with manures. I think 7 feet by 7 feet, ample, leaving each alternate tenth row for a pass way - say 10 feet wide - The accompaning table will give you the number of vines planted pr acre, according to the distance there indicated.
The expense pr acre of planting & cultivating will vary according to prices of labour & condition & preparation of the land - If you trench the land as done in Germany, France & by some Vintagers in the U.S. a very large sum may be so expended - and the longevity of the Vine may be then promoted - I do not believe the advange of trenching (unless upon wet soil which should never be selected [selected] for vines) will justify the increased outlay & trouble - We have fully demonstrated that grape roots planted as you woould an ordinary shrub not only fruits well but lives longer than the time biblically allotted to man of three score and ten . You want a deep, loose soil - which preparation can be attained by the use of a heavy plough drawn by three horses, followed by a subsoil plough & coutler drawn by two or three horses - which if well done will give a depth of 16 or 18 inches.
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which will be ample - I reason from nature - The wild grapes grown upon our mountains & in our forests, where no ploughing or preparation was made - and do well - why should the grape domesticated & improved, acquire so much better attention?
The ground being properly prepared two good hands will open the holes & set 500 hills pr day & do it well - I had rather more than that done. The expense of cultivating, after planting, the 1st & 2nd year, will be equal or a little more than the same quantity of land in corn - The use of the hoe, in keeping the young plants free from grass will be needed. After the second year, it will be unsafe to use a plough, as it will disturb the young roots - which run in every direction -A small harrow to lighten the surface may be used -
If thrifty & properly managed your vines will bear the third year - The better plan is not to suffer them to do much of that, as they may overtax themselves, and consequently dwarf them for succeeding years - If properly pruned they will continue to improve & increase in qantity & quality for several years - The seasons being favourable, with proper treatment, the yield may be estimated from 500 gallons to 800 galls pr acre - No vinyard, unless extraordinarily managed, will produce grapes exclusively suited for market - especially as the competition in the Market increases, hence, you must prepare for wine as well as the table - selecting the largest and best bunches for the latter, and using the residue for Wine - Unless you have a cellar prepared for the purpose and your grapes shall be thoroughly ripe, too much so for table use, it will be necessary to use a pound of brown sugar to the gallon of must or juice,- Wine Connoiseurs will differ with me in the use of sugar- I am satisfied a little improves the wine & secures its keeping -
We have had no failures in grapes here, since that interest has elicited any attention. Last season was the most unpropitious we have had - The [Catawbas rotted some - a fair crop was raised not withstanding, the season.
Schroder Vineyard and Fruit Garden Brochure with Note 24 January 1868
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[column 1] LA VERSAILE, 25 cts. 3 dolls. per hun. 10 dolls. per hundred. CHERRY, BLACK ENGLISH, and BLACK NAPLES, same.
GOOSEBERRIES. AMERICAN and HOUGHTON SEEDLINGS.—Entirely free from mildew; an enormous bearer. This fruit is most excellent, and greatly superior to many kinds. 1 and 2 years old 15 cts. each, 1.50 per dozen, six dollars per hundred, fifty dollars per thousand.
RASPBERRIES. DOOLITTLE. PURPLE CANE, HUDSON RIVER, ALLENS, COL, WILDER, RED ANTWERP, BRINKLES ORANGE, WHITE ENGLISH, BELLE DE FONTENAY, MARVILLE of the four Seasons, OHIO EVERBEARING, 10 cents each, one dollar per dozen, two to six dollars per hundred. CATAWISSA, eight dollars per hundred. DOOLITTLE, improved Black cap, four dollars per hundred, and only eighteen dollars per thousand.
RHUBARB. MYATT'S LINNAEOUS, is so much superior to all other kinds, that we cultivate it exclusively. $1,50 per dozen, $5 per hundred.
STRAWBERRIES. WILSON'S ALBANY, 1 dol. per hun 5,50 per thousand. McABOY'S SUPERIOR, 1.50 per hundred, 7,00 per thousand. RUSSEL'S PROLIFIC, 1.50 per hun 7,00 per thousand. EARLY SCARLET, 1.50 per hun. 7.00 per thousand. WASHINGTON, 1.50 per hundred, 7.00 per thousand.
[column 2] PINES, 1.50 per hundred, 7.00 per thousand. IUCUNDA or 700, 2.50 per hundred.
Flowers and Bulbs. Roses—Of more than a hundred varieties, the best in the country, From 20 cents to 75 cents each, 1 dollar to 3 dollars and fifty cents, per dozen, 16 dollars per hundred, 100 dollars per thousand.
PAOENIES.—A very fine assortment, 25 to 75 cents each, 2 to 6 dollars per dozen, 10 to 30 dollars per hundred.
Peach, Pear, Cherry and Plum Trees. I have a small number of fine selected Plumb, Cherry, Peach and Pear Trees, which I will sell cheap, extra selected, 1 dollar each.
Hedge Plants. OSAGE ORANGE.—One year old, No. 1, 3 dollars per thousand. Osage Orange Seed 1 dollar and 50 cents per pound.
WINES. WINE—The purest and best kinds from one to four years old for sale by the Gallon, Dozen or Bottle. Also sparkling wines of my own production. Samples of Deleware, Concord, Clinton, Norton's Virginia, Herbemont and Catawba, 15 dollars per dozen bottles, packed well.
When the parties are not known to us, orders must be accompanied by the Cash, or a suitable reference. We keep the right of substituting varieties if we have not exactly the ordered sorts, without otherwise ordered. [end of column 2]
Special Notice! In order that my friends going into the Wine Business may know the quality of wines of different leading varieties, and to have a taste of the same, I will sell 12 bottles of the different sorts well packed in a case at $15. Half a dozen bottles $8. ADDRESS,
Dr. H. SCHRODER, Bloomington, Illinois.
Bloomington, Illinois, January 24 1868. Mr. John B. Minor
My Dear Sir: [Coming?] back & after a little sickness come to your Kind letter to answer the Same. Pardon me for not having done the Same before. I have a very extensive Business all over the U.S. and my Correspondance is immense. My Stock of Vines & Cuttings is the largest ever offerd by one man in the U.S. Now than to your letter I have answered all your Questions as good I [out?] and if not satisfactory send me more to answer. I assure you that it shall make me only Pleasure to do so. And if you have any orders for me send them along and you shall find out that I always try to please my Customers. over