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all these fruits, the apple excepted, would do much better if 

 the ground beneath them was not cultivated, and a sod allow- 

 ed to cover the ground. 



The grape is receiving some attention. There is a small 

 vineyard in the county, planted by Mr. Stine, which produ- 

 ces well. Several citizens of Bloomington have attempted 

 its cultivation on a small scale, but have been discouraged by 

 the rot. In that place I have about one hundred and fifty 

 vines, and this disease never affects them ; which I attribute 

 to the locality and mode of cultivation. This fall I planted 

 about three hundred vines, (Catawba) purposing to increase 

 this number as rapidly as possible. My mode of cultivation 

 is the reverse of that pursued by the Germans. I set my 

 vines ten feet apart, plant a row of corn (drilled) between 

 the rows of grapes to shade them, and never give any pruning 

 in the summer, but a thorough one in March. A free circu- 

 lation of the air must be secured by the locality. I avoid 

 making the soil too rich, especially with stable manure. The 

 ground ought to be broken deep— from eighteen to twenty 

 inches, and this can most easily be done by running three 

 ploughs in the same furrow — two turning over, and the third 

 a sub-soil plough. This depth gives a good under drainage, 

 which the grape must have, in clay soils especially. I abhor 

 a western exposure, avoid a southern one, and prefer an 

 eastern or a north-eastern one. 



The rose bug destroys the grape when in blossom. With- 

 in the last four years this pest has become known to us, and 

 now the bugs are so numerous that they cover the wild vines 

 in the woods, and attack the early cherry; such as the May 

 Duke and Early May. They are easily destroyed, however, 

 by holding a basin with water in it, under them and then 

 touching them, when they will drop down, and fall into the 

 water. 



The Catawba is the best grape we have. In every way it 

 is superior to the Isabella, and it is less subject to the rot. 

 Having given a general outline of the present condition of 



