Vineyard - The idea (1e)
Von Matthias C.S. Dreyer
This is how the idea of a vineyard on the Kalmit came about: In November of the year 2022, Matthias C.S. Dreyer came across an article in the “Pfälzischer Kurier,” from the 1935 edition of “Die Pfalz” (Sunday Supplement: Die Pfalz. – Neustadt, Haardt: Pfälzische Verl.-Anstalt). In this article, the Worms journalist Adolf Tschirner described the meteorological station on the Kalmit.
Meteorological Station
A query to the current operator of the meteorological station on the Kalmit tower, Christian Müller (→ https://www.kalmit.de), provided confirmation. “Yes, the station was established in the 1930s.”
The article also mentioned a plant garden with a vineyard. The title of the article was “A Vineyard at 670 Meters Altitude.” The idea gained momentum: “What was possible back then should be possible today.” With a publication in the news bulletin of the Verbandsgemeinde Maikammer (Issue: 51st Year, Issue 49/2022, Pages 24 and 25), the idea was presented to the public. Negotiations with the municipality of Maikammer were already underway in the background. Soon, some enthusiasts came forward who wanted to help realize the idea of a vineyard on the Kalmit.
The Article in Text Form
“A Vineyard at 670 Meters Altitude Visit to the Plant Climatic Experimental Garden on the Kalmit Interesting Observations By Adolf Tschirner
A garden on the Kalmit where flowers, fruit, and vines grow? Does that really exist? Some may wonder. Yes, there is a garden and even a vineyard on the highest point of the Kalmit. However, these things are not there for their own sake but serve science. The garden on the Kalmit was established in 1932. Here, in conjunction with the observatory’s work, the effects of weather and climate at this altitude on plants are studied. It aims to determine with scientific certainty and genuine German thoroughness how much later plants in this height green, bloom, and thrive. What has been observed in the few years of the existence of this unique garden in nature up here is among the most interesting research results of the Kalmit Observatory.
We had the weather observer, Assessor Burghardt, tell us about the research results. The observations have shown that at this 670-meter height, the difference in growth compared to plants in the sunny plain below amounts to six to eight weeks. Just about twelve days ago, the first green leaves timidly appeared on the vines on the Kalmit! Grapes never ripen up here. The berries remain hard and green and freeze in the first cold nights of September. Even with a very late harvest, it’s “vinegar” up here! But to see this small vineyard on the Kalmit is part of the experience of this great mountain.
The garden itself certainly looks strange enough! Even without being an expert, you can immediately recognize the scientific nature of this small setup. And something else surprised us: the many forget-me-nots along the roadside radiate a blue that the modest plant in the plain does not possess. Because ultraviolet radiation is greater at this altitude, it intensifies the colors of the plants. These radiation effects are precisely examined in this garden. There, gladioli stand in front of a black and a white semicylinder. The plant in front of the black background grows slower than its neighbor in front of the brightly white backdrop. Weather-resistant plants, grasses, and mosses thrive splendidly. In the small alpine area of the garden, edelweiss, gentian, and all the aromatic alpine flowers and herbs flourish at this altitude. In contrast, it looks sad for the cereal varieties. The demanding grain crops of the German farmer do not advance well at this altitude. Even the roses, which perfume and bloom in all colors in the plain, have just set their first buds. All of this is observed and recorded, and the results are sent to the Reich Weather Service, which uses them for the benefit of agriculture and horticulture.
The latest achievement in the plant-climatic garden is dew measurement. The dew gauge made of horsehair is a delicate instrument. It can determine how much dew falls quantitatively. This observation is intended to benefit viticulture and be decisive for the training of grapevines in higher elevations.
The garden on the Kalmit hosts plants, trees, and shrubs in the service of science. And while walking through this facility, while contemplating the interesting plants, we gained great respect for the thoroughness of German science, the results of which benefit the entire nation!”
Ranking in Altitude
It was also about the question: “Could the new vineyard be the highest vineyard in Germany?”. Later, it turned out: Unfortunately, no. The highest vineyard in Germany is in the Allgäu region. For more information, see: