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PROCEEDINGS OF THE SUMMER MEETING. 63 



black grape is the Worden. It is seven to ten days earlier than Concord, 

 and is more hardy and productive, although I like the tlavor of Concord 

 fully as well. I believe Delaware and Martha, though both small, can be 

 made profitalile. I prune to three buds in the fall, and sometimes rub off 

 some of those in the spring. I allow two feet between vine and ground for 

 circulation of air. I have known Niagara to be profitable, but also to be 

 hurt by frost. I have not yet fruited Woodruff, but the vine is hardy; nor 

 Early Victor, but think well of it. AVliite grapes sell best and red ones 

 next. I dislike Wilder because there are not enough berries in its 

 bunches, but I have not found the same fault with Salem. The Worden's 

 berries are larger and its seeds smaller than the Concord's. Worden is 

 said to drop its fruit, and may do so where there are too many leaves or 

 too much vine, but it has not with me. If the Brighton be laid down in 

 winter, I would recommend it. The finest bunch of grapes I ever saw 

 grown out-doors was of this variety. The best keeper I know of, though 

 not the longest, is Salem. Isabella keeps longest of all grapes I grow. I 

 grow my canes obliquely, so that they may easier be laid down, for I lay 

 down all my grapes in winter, although I would risk Worden upon the 

 trellises. Laying down is not generally practiced here, but it pays, in 

 better crops, to do so. The spraying mixture I speak of is one pound of 

 sulphate of copper, two j^ounds of lime, and twenty-four gallons of water. 

 It is a preventive, not a cure, and will stop rot after it has begun. 



Prest. Lyon: To lay down grapevines would be the better practice any- 

 where in Michigan. A good plan of pruning is to grow a single vine out 

 horizontally, or nearly so, and grow uprights from it. It is readily laid 

 down and affords a regular and easy system of pruning. Grapes are so 

 grown at Minnetonka, Minn., on the southern exposure of a hill, and in 

 perfection, even the Catawba. Choose your location so as to get warmth. 

 At Minnetonka I saw Eumelan and other such varieties, growing perfectly, 

 while we can scarcely get a perfect bunch. 



Mr . Br ADISH : I cultivate my grapes as cleanly as I would corn. 



Mr. Edmiston: Yery few growers in Lenawee county lay down their 

 grapes. A few, like Mr. Bradish, do so, especially the tenderer varieties. 

 I leave on my trellises Worden, Concord, Martha, and others. I use and 

 like the horizontal trellis. Posts are set six and a half feet out of the 

 ground, the cross-pieces at the top are two and a half feet long, bearing- 

 three wires, one in the center and one at each end. The vine is trained 

 upright, six and a half feet to the trellis, and I cultivate each way. I like 

 this method very much — the fruit hangs down beneath the trellis, and the 

 plan is not inconvenient either for picking or pruning. 



Mr. SiGLEE : I lost my crop by rot last year, and have had much of it 

 this season, though there is enough fruit left for the vines to care for. I 

 did not spray, either year. I think rot is the result of heat after wet 

 weather. 



Mr. Bk ADISH : I think also that is the cause of rot, or rather the condi- 

 tions in which it flourishes, starting from spores of fungus which settle 

 upon the grapes and develop when conditions are favorable. 



Mr. SiGLER : We had no black rot till last season. 



An entertaining diversion from the debate was here introduced, a reci- 

 tation by Miss Mary C. Allis, of Carleton's "The Lightning Rod Agent." 



Mr. Steeke: I do not generally practice laying down, finding most vari- 

 eties, common here, to succeed very well without this extra labor. I do 



