Grape Cultivation Questionnaire Completed by D H Schroder, undated

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

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.

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 [?] of the rooms. 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 [?] 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.

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 one, 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 rooms in order to [drean?] and plant Varieties mostly I dit nauce for year. Do not condemn Catawba try my Neco [System?] and your 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;