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Pelee Island Winery vineyard
15 September 2011
Pelee Island, Ontario

Credits:
Pelee Island Heritage Museum

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Grape Growing Practices

To establish a vineyard the costs were considerable, with estimates being $148.50 per acre in 1881. On Pelee Island, the density of vines per acre may have been more than triple the normal practice making it more expensive to plant per acre. In spite of the expense, grapes ranked third in significance for Ontario's fruit crops in 1860s and 1870s. Both growers and consumers had a choice of varieties to choose from on Pelee Island: Isabella, Delaware, Norton's Virginia Seedling, Schmidt's Seedling, Clinton, Hartford, Moore's Seedling, Ive's Seedling, Niagara, Rogers', Iona, Island Queen and the two most popular varieties - Concord and Catawba. Vines were acquired from many sources with preference given to local sources including Catawba and Bass Islands. It is believed that the earliest varieties planted on Pelee were from the Delaware and Catawba stock, these were chosen for the vineyard of Thaddeus Smith and the Williams Brothers. The Delaware grape originated in Delaware Ohio and the Catawba variety came from the banks of the Catawba River in North Carolina.

Choosing the varieties was dependent upon many factors, including climate. The average number of frost-free days on Pelee Island allowed the growers the opportunity to plant varieties that matured later on in the fall season. The most popular was the Catawba grape, and Pelee Island became the centre of Catawba production.
Site selection for the vineyard was also influences by different components, all playing a part in the success of the vineyard. Proximity to water, a sloping field for good drainage and movement of air, the presence of a limestone base beneath the soil, and application of aged cattle manure were all important factors.

The field was then ploughed and holes dug for the vines. Rows were spaced from seven to eight feet apart and vines planted every four or five feet within the rows. Given this spacing, one acre would support up to one thousand vines. After the vines were planted stakes were driven next to each vine. The stake was attached to the vine to ensure it would not grow crooked. Posts were placed next to every fourth or fifth vine. Eastern Red Cedar was particularly abundant on the island and thus made it a popular choice for the source of the vineyard posts. The posts were hung with three wires which made up the trellis system on which the grape canes were trained.

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Acres of Vineyards (Kelley's Island)
1910-1918
Kelley's Island, OH, United States of America

Credits:
Charles E. Frohman Collection
R.B. Hayes Presidential Center

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Once the pruning was finished a few other tasks needed to be completed including the application of fungicide. The application of sulphate of copper and hartshorn (made from the distillation of deer horns) was done to combat the effects of both powdery and downy mildew. Catawba grapes were more susceptible to mildew infections than the Concord. After the first application it was customary to tie the canes to the trellis using the shoots of the yellow willow tree. The winter was the time for the preparation of the willow shoots which were cut and split. These shoots were stored in cellars or other such damp places before being used. Each shoot was cut to twelve inch lengths and during the first tying the workers would have the willow bundles tied to their waists.
In late June the families of the grape growers helped with the second tying. This time twisted rye grass was used grown on the island for this purpose. Cut with sickles and gathered in sheaves, it would take two or three straws to hold the new growth to the trellis.