Farming. S«tui Wine )Conttnu«d from Pip IJ_ far as the wine industry is concerned,' labrusca varieties are very hardy plants. Vinefera are the very best wine grapes, but they are extremely difficult to grow. Miller feels certain that American viticulturists will eventually master the art of growing these tender skinned French grapes, but he didn't feel he should start out with vinefera. The hybrids he picked combine lubrasca hardiness with a good measure of vinefera quality. Could a Lancaster County or Pennsylvania wine in dustry ever compete with giants like California’s Gallo Brothers? “Not on the basis of price and quantity,” Miller said. “I think the key to our success here will be the quality of the product. If we start with French hybrids, we’ll be a cut above the cheaper wines. I’d like to see a vin ordinaire - ordinary wine - in Lancaster County. In France, as you go from region to region you can order the vin ordinaire and each has its own special qualities.” WE SELL Negley-Miller Silos For More Information Cali: GUTSHALL SILO REPAIR R.D.I, Womelsdorf, Pa. 19567 Phone 717-933-4616 Pick The 'I-Ka One , rfe *}. That 1 1 Suits 1W Solidly crafted of 100% stainless steel, Mueller If > Bulk Milk Coolers are available in several models, RD 1 in a size range of 70 through 5,000 gallons Pick a W 111 I Mueller—and pick a winner* It's the cooler pre- I QRQsi ferred by dairymen around the world* Best! USED BULK TANKS 425 gal Esco ■ Used 12 Can Cooler 2-12 can front 500 gal- Mojonmer opening Star 1000 gal. Mojonmer Coolers. § a *- | sco 500 gal. Esco DODD USED DIESELS 1 - S.R. 1 Lister Diesel Engine 1 - P.H. 2 Fetter Diesel Engine 12 HP. HESS FARM SUPPLIES Pioneer Seed Corn Available in Small Lots for Immediate Pickup. Queen Read Repair Box 67, Intercourse, Pa 17534 24 Hour Service, Phone 717 768-7111 or Dial 0 Ask for Mobile Unit Titus Burkholder - Unit#! P 5 9742 After 5 P.M. John 0. Weaver 656 9982 - Kenneth M. Groff 354 0473 Titus Burkholder 717-859-1620 OR Answering Service 354-5181 We Stock Hess’ Farm Supplies Check Our Prices on Animal Medications 4.1974 While MUler thinks growers here should start, with French hybrids, he feels the real rewards will come to those who are successful with vinefera. How does the wine market look in the years ahead? “There’s no way in the world that grape production can keep up with the booming demand for wine," Miller said. "Young people, today are rejecting liquor, and they’re turning to wine, instead. They start with the cheaper, pop wines, and as they become more discriminating they go on to better wines. I think there's where Lancaster County can become important - in producing the finer wines.” Many of Lancaster County’s farmers won’t drink wine or any other alcoholic beverage because of their conservative backgrounds. Could this attitude slow the develop ment of Lancaster County vineyards? “A lot of them won’t use tobacco, either, but they sure do grow it,” Mifler said. ‘.‘You shouldn’t think of wine as booze, anyway. It’s food. You drink wine with a meal because, it enhances the flavor of food. Liquor kills it.” “Besides,” Miller added, “a farmer can earn a lot more from (rapes than he can with tobacco. An acre of grapes can gross from HMD to $2OOO a year. Tobacco will return $BOO. And I don't think there's really that much difference in the amount of work.” Find year expenses for a vineyard can be high, from $l5OO to I2SOO an acre for vines and wire trellises. And a beginning grower- must wait three years for his first harvest. But once a vineyard is established, maintenance should be very cheap, ac cording to Miller. Spraying and tractor fuel are virtually the only maintenance, costs. The heaviest labor requirement in grape growing comes, of course, during harvest which is mid to late October. During the cold months vines must be pruned and tied up to the wire trellises, and there is some spraying. and cultivating in the summer. Miller feels he can easily handle his ten acres, and reported that it’s not at all unusual to find 50-acre vineyards in New York where all labor is supplied by the family. Not every farm, even in Lancaster County, is suitable for vineyards, Royal MH-3(L. the only one good enough to replace reliable MH-30. Each season, more and more tobacco growers are switching to Royal MH-30 growth regulant They’ve watched it perform on neighbor’s fields, they’ve seen the results of University trials, and are convinced it’s the most effective systemic sucker control available. Royal MH-30 gets into the plant and working in half the time of regular MH-30, greatly reducing the danger of wash-off from unexpected afternoon showers. In trial after trial, Royal MH-30 has consistently proved to be 25-35% more effective, and even kills small suckers that Faster than MH-30 Sorbatranf a special surfactant ingredient, gets Royal MH-30 into the plant and acting in half the time of regularMH-30. Gives effective sucker protection within 6 hours of application. Miller pointed out. He said site selection is the most important step in getting started, and feels that expert • help is a vital necessity. One good source of help is the county extension office, which is where Miller started. Soil type, air drainage, and the frost-free period are the most critical considerations In selecting a site. Usually, if a site Is suited for orchards, it’s suited for vineyards. One thing Miller thinks favors a wine industry in County, two in Bucks' County with two more in the plan ning stages, and Lancaster County’s own Pequea Valley Winery, All these and any other state winners will be , required to use Penn sylvania grapes, and a lot of them. H. Peterman Wood, for example, owner of the Pequea Valley Winery, expects his eventual requirements to exceed 200 acres. “There’s a great future here in the wine grape in dustry,” Miller said, “but Pennsylvania is the fact that the Limited Wineries Act requires state wineries to use only grapes grown in the Commonwealth. There are several wineries in Erie High return per acre Even though Royal MH-30 is significantly more efficient, the cost is surprisingly low. Because good sucker control increases crop value, many growers are experiencing as much as.s2o returned for every dollar invested. it'll take a lot of work. One and wa need to get more thing I think we need is more P«m State people interested farmer input into research, in wine gmpoe.” cowiNG CORN NEEDS NITROGEN W* Can Supply Your Notds call ZOOK & RANCH, Inc. RDI, Gap. Pa. 17527 Phone 717-442-4171 idiiiroi Mfwr NIL SPRAY PAMT YOUR BARNS & SHEDS with Bruiting Country Squire INTRODUCTORY OFFER $6.50 per gal. if you help. $7.50 per gal. if we use boom truck. PAINT & AIRLESS EQUIPMENT AT MOST REASONABLE RATES. Phone (AC) 215-445-6186 PHARES HURST RDI Narvon, Pa. 17555 e emerged on tender, fast growing tobacco. This year, some chemicals are going to be in short supply so talk to your dealbr today and arrange for enough Royal MH-30 to treat your crop. It’s the best systemic sucker control money can buy. Looking for a product to control early suckers? Talk to him about Royaltacf the outstanding new contact chemical. From the world’s leading producer of tobacco growth regulants ... (Jniroyal Chemical, Division of uniroyal, Inc., Naugatuck, CT 06770. As with any growth regulant, always follow instructions on the label of (Jmroyal, Inc Easy to apply Royal Mn-30 is easy to apply either by tractor sprayer or compressed air shoulder units. Checlf with your dealer about a Royal MH-30 program for your acreage today.
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