Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1875 — Summer Pruning of Grape Vines. [ARTICLE]

Summer Pruning of Grape Vines.

The scarcity of orchard fruits this season, says the Ohio Farmer, will render the grape crop ot more value than usual in the estimation of most families, and hence it is desirable i hat some pains should be taken to make the crop as good as possible. Most farmers and others who have, only a few grape vines are apt to give no attention to their summer pruning until they find the vines are become a tangled mass of shoots and leaves, hiding the fruit from shiht and from the sun and air. Or, if the vine is so fortunate as to have plenty of space to spread itself, it is allowed to bear more fruit than it can bring to maturity. In either case the crop is damaged and fails to ripen if it does not mildew or rot. Two things, therefore, are of importance to be kept in view at this season: First, to remove surplus shoots while they are young and small, and tie up such as have fruit and are to remain, but leaving no more of these than there is room for without crowding. And second, to pick oil from onethird to one-half of the bunches of fruit as soon as fairly set, if the vines are at all full. This is a duty which few persons are willing to perform, aud only those who have learned by experience its advantages are likely to do it at all faithfully. It is difficult to lay down rules for trimming grapes, or any other fruits;4t is best learned by experience. There is little danger of taking oft' too much; and the improved quality of what remains is pretty sure to compensate for all that is removed. This is especially true of varieties like the Delaware and IffiTa, that are not strong growers, and are disposed to injure themselves by overbearing. In a majority of cases it is an advantage to remove one-half the fruit that sets on these vines. Such kinds as the Concord, Hartford, and Rogers’ Hybrids, if quite vigorous and having plenty of space, may be allowed to carry most if not all their .bunchesof fruit. In nea ly all cases it is best to remove all over two bunches that may set on one shoot; generally the two lower ones are the best to remain, and the third should be removed. Whenever the shoots or bunches of fruit are likely to crowd and injure each other some should be cut away. This work should be commenced as early as the blossoms are off and the fruit formed, and better still if the removal of surplus buds and shoots is begun before the blossoms appear. It will be difficult work after the shoots get large and the tendrils fasten themselves; besides, it is an injury to remove from the vine as much foliage as will need to be done if delayed till after the growth is much advanced.

The monopoly journals are determined that they will not be forced to a discussion of the real merits oi the currency question. They constantly refer to the greenback movement as an “inflation” movement, while in fact there is no inflation in it, and this term is only used to cast dust in the eyes of the people. The platform of the Ohio Democrats is not an inflation platform, and yet lhe cardinal currency reform ideas there embodied have no other name in the columns of the money-mongers’ papers. All that Is said in that platform with regard to the volume of the currency, is that it “shall be made and kept equal to the demands of trade.” Will some specie dr national bank advocate put himself on his record as favoring a less volume than the demands of trade require? If there is’now, as they claim, too much jnbney, then this platform is a “contraction” platform.—lndianapolis Sttn.

In tbc United States the deepest artesian well is that bored for the insane asylum at St. Louis, Mo. This has reached the enormous depth of 3,043 feet, or in that locality, 3,000 feet below the sealevel. This would give a water pressure at the bottom of 1,293 lbs. to the square inch. The deepest bore in the world is one, begun as a rock salt mine and yet uncompleted, at the village of Sperenburg, some twenty miles from Berlin. Its present depth is 4,194 feet. In the Desert of Sahara some sev-enty-five shafts have been . sunk, which yield an aggregate of 600000 gallons per hour. The effect of this supply is said to be plainly apparent upon the once barren soil of the desert. Two new yillages have been built, and 150,000 palm trees planted on more than 1,000 nc.w gardens.