SECRETARY'S REPORT. 37 



When the scion becomes long and heavy a piece of list is passed 

 around it and the branch to confine it and prevent the wind from . 

 blowing it out before the union is strong and perfect. Finally in 

 a year or two the branch is entirely removed and the scarp made 

 in the act being underneath, heals more readily. The advantages 

 of this method are : that the growth of the tree is not checked ; 

 the process is quickly performed, and it is very successful, par- 

 ticularly on thrifty trees. 



Grafting by approach has been used for the grape vine, when 

 two branches of different vines are near each other, or a vine in a 

 pot can be obtained. The bark and a sliver are removed from the 

 sides, so that when brought in contact, they will closely fit and 

 they are bound together until a union is effected, and then the 

 branch which is to be discarded is removed and the connection 

 with the vine which has been used for the scion is severed. 



Of currants, a new variety, the Versaillaise, surpasses all the 

 others. It is very large and the bush is a great bearer. Red and 

 White Dutch have long been cultivated, and the Red and White 

 Grape have been introduced. 



Some twenty kinds of gooseberries have been cultivated, but 

 none have escaped the mildew except the Houghton's Seedling, 

 and this variety cannot be too highly commended. 



Raspberries. Red and White Antwerp, Knevett's Giant, Fill 

 Basket, Franconia, Brinkle's Orange and Catawissa have proved 

 the best. The Catawissa is an everbearing variety and differs 

 essentially from the others. Instead of producing its fruit chiefly 

 on the old wood, it bears mostly on wood of the current year's 

 growth and continues until prevented by frost. Its size is large 

 and color deep crimson. 



Strawberries. The Wilson's Albany, Cutter's Seedling, Austin 

 Shaker, Hooker's, Boston Pine and Downer's, have all succeeded 

 well in our vicinity, and have been prolific. For productiveness 

 and profit the Wilson's Albany stands first and the Cutter's second. 

 For flavor, the Hooker's and Downer's are the best. The Cutter's 

 and Downer's have strong stalks, which are not apt to bend to 

 the ground under the weight of their fruit. 



One cultivator, Mr. J. P. Sinclair, brought into market the last 

 season (1862) six hundred and forty boxes, the produce of five 

 kinds, and Mr. A. Noyes raised about six hundred quarts of the 

 best varieties. 



