Discussion on Grapes. 101 



the attack of mildew, and the larger the leaf area next the fruit, the larger 

 and finer the fruit will be. 



This pinching process also results in full, plump, and well developed buds 

 on the canes to be left for the next year's fruiting, as you will see from the 

 specimens I have brought to show you how the pruning is done. Some ad- 

 vocates of long pruning urge as a reason for it that the third and fourth buds 

 on a cane produce the best clusters, and some even assert that the axillary 

 buds, those that emanate at the junction of the young cane with the old wood, 

 will never produce fruit. 



That depends altogether on the treatment the vines have received. If 

 they have been allowed to grow at random and take care of themselves, I 

 admit they seldom fruit, purely from lack of development. The sap being 

 allowed to pursue its natural course unmolested, it has no time to stop and 

 pay proper attention to these buds; but, with judicious summer pruning, 

 these base buds are equal to the emergency. In fact the short spur system 

 heretofore described depends absolutely for success on this summer pruning. 



I know a very successful amateur who has vines ten years old treated on 

 this system, some of the spurs on which are not over one and a half inches 

 long ; indeed, in some instances they are so short that the base bud seems 

 to start almost out of the old wood, and yet this bud will give as good fruit 

 and as large clusters as any, and does so year after year, and it is simply due 

 to this full development resulting from summer pruning. 



Mr. President, I am done. The subject is a prolific one. Volumes have 

 been and may be written on it. I have merely touched a few points on the 

 borders in this desultory manner. Your Secretary said he wanted the paper 

 brief and practical. If it possesses no other merit I trust in these two fea- 

 tures, at least, it " fills the bill." Regretting the subject had not fallen into 

 abler hands, and thanking you for your kind attention, I am your humble 

 servant and co-laborer. 



Note. — The cuts illustrating this article were drawn and engraved expressly for 

 it by Scranton & Chadwick, designers and engravers, No. 25 North 7th street, 

 Philadelphia, Pa. 



DISCUSSION ON GRAPES. 



Mr. Hollister, of Missouri — Where grapes succeed they find a 

 ready and remunerative demand. Although the Concord and other 

 hardy grapes often sell at from one and a half to two cents per 

 pound, in our city markets, they yet pay the producer better than 

 corn or cotton. 



Mr. Wilcox, of California — Grape culture is a leading interest in 

 California. Our table grapes find ready sale in the Eastern mar- 

 kets, and from our poorer soils wine grapes are profitably grown. 

 The European grapes are now thoroughly acclimated in our State. 



