294 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



ALLEGAN COUNTY TOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PREPARED BY EDWY C. REID. 

 OFFICERS FOR 1883. 



President — John B. Dumont. 

 Vice President — M. T. Smith. 

 Secretary — Andrew J. Bracelin. 

 Treasurer — Allen Wood. 



May Meeting. 



M. T. Smith of Hopkins spoke of grape culture, which he deems the pleas- 

 antest branch of horticulture. In planting a vineyard the ground should be 

 prepared as for corn, and any ground which will produce a good corn crop is 

 fit for grapes. His vines are eight feet apart each w\ay, but he thinks it would be 

 better to set vines ten feet apart one way by at least eight the other. They 

 should be planted — not merely stuck into the ground — with roots placed in 

 their natural position as nearly as possible, after trimming off all the bruised 

 roots. A stake should be driven for each vine before it is set, and the earth 

 should be packed around the vine when set. All buds but one should be rub- 

 bed off and the laterals pinched off as they appear, so as to grow the first year 

 only a single cane. Cultivate thoroughly, as corn, and nearly any crop but 

 potatoes may be raised the first year between the rows. At any time between 

 the fall ripening and spring starting, cut back to one foot in height. He would 

 not use trellises because vines can be better cared lor and produce better fruit 

 on stakes. Grow two canes the second year, winding them about the stake and 

 nailing them there. Last year he cut out one-half of each vine, leaving only a 

 single cane, and got the largest and best crop he ever had. He has now but 

 one vine to each stake, and the trunks have become so strong as to stand alone 

 and nearly bear the whole weight of the fruit. In subsequent prunings he 

 leaves but two buds of the last year's growth, and the laterals from these 

 should be pinched oflF to within one leaf of the last bunch of fruit. There 

 should be no cultivation or pruning after August until the harvest. Tiie fifth 

 year he would cut away until within two buds of the parent stem. Accessory 

 buds may be used to reshape the vines or get new canes. The only fertilizer 

 he has used is barnyard manure ; bone-dust may be good. He would cultivate 

 continually the original cane rather than renew by sprouts from the roots. He 

 would cultivate no crop among vines after the third year, llis vines had not 

 failed of a crop for ten years. He markets in Grand Rapids in baskets holding 

 from sixteen to eighteen pounds, covered with tarletan. He considers the 

 Concord the best for market of any grape yet grown here. The Delaware com- 

 mands the highest price, but will yield six times as much fruit and sell for only 

 two or three cents per pound. The Hartford is good, i)roductivc, and hardy, 

 but ripens at about the same time as the Concord and docs not sell as readily. 



Mr. Buck thought Mr. Smith's plan superior to the "renewal process" of 

 starting new canes from near the root. 



Mr. Smith said his vineyard was surrounded by grass and the vines nearest 



