KEPOKTS OF AUXILIARY SOCIETIES. 315 



the lowest part the floods of water cut a channel from three to six feet deep, 

 forming a good drainage ditch, the effect of which was to make one of the 

 most splendid hay meadows ever seen. 



President Tate presented a paper, which was read by Mrs. Tate, upon 



GKAPE CULTURE. 



Horticulture offers to its devotees the greatest field for study and reflection, 

 while it adds to labor both pleasure and profit, thus encouraging us in a pur- 

 suit where every day teaches us its useful lesson, and every flower, and plant, 

 and shrub, and tree, and vine makes known to man its wants, demanding of 

 us our most careful study and most watchful care. Thus has the Great Cre- 

 ator arranged our surroundings, that while toiling in the necessary avocations 

 of life we are at the same time drawing from labor the pleasures and enjoy- 

 ments that lift the burden from our shoulders and change toil to pleasure. 



But this is not all : while we enjoy the pleasure of labor we are also encour- 

 aged to look forward to its profits, and this I consider to be one of the princi- 

 pal objects of the organization of this society, and it is earnestly hoped that 

 our efforts in that direction will not be without good results. 



One of the subjects announced for discussion to-day is "Grape Culture." I 

 would therefore beg to trespass on your time for a few moments while I present 

 a few remarks on preparation of the soil, condition and preparation of the 

 young vines preparatory to planting, the manner of planting, and the care 

 after planting, including staking, trellising, etc., and will also add a few words 

 in regard to some of the newer varieties of grapes ; but, before doing so, I must 

 first assure you that you will hear but little that is new, the whole field having 

 been so thoroughly and so wisely traversed by the many eminent writers who 

 have presented us with so much valuable information on this subject during the 

 last quarter of a century that I scarcely find room for personal identification. 

 I will therefore endeavor to be governed by the practical, leaving theory to those 

 who prefer it. 



The preparation of the soil will be the first matter to be considered. This 

 work should commence a year before plauting, if possible, when, if the subsoil 

 comes too near the surface, say 8 or 10 inches, a subsoil plow should be used 

 and three or four inches of the subsoil brought to the surface for atmospheric 

 action, the whole surface thoroughly worked during the season, and again well 

 plowed late in the fall. Thus, by turning up the subsoil, the concealed gases 

 therein would be liberated and come in contact with the gases of the atmos- 

 phere, creating a chemical change in the soil and rendering it in a condition to 

 yield the most nourishment to the young plant the following year. In the fall 

 plowing already mentioned, I -would suggest that it be plowed in ridges or lands 

 ten feet wide and so arranged that the dead furrow will come between the rows 

 of young vines when planted, that is, assuming that it is desired to plant the 

 vines ten feet apart each way, which distance I consider the best under ordi- 

 nary circumstances, though the Concord and other vigorous growers might be 

 improved by increasing the distance to fifteen feet. 



Prior to planting the following spring the harrow should be freely used, so 

 as to make the surface have a thoroughly smooth and clean appearance. Then 

 stake the centers of the ridges at distances ten feet apart, putting in a good, 

 strong stake, say seven or eight feet long and not less than three inches in 

 diameter; drive the stake well down into the subsoil and tamp it in thoroughly. 

 Then dig the holes, commencing on the south side of the stake and slanting 

 downward and outward at an angle of about forty-five degree, so that when 



