74 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



with thoroughly. Whether, in the grape, the long spur or renewal, or the 

 Kniffen system, for we seem to have settled down to these two, produce 

 the best results. Which system gives the greater amount of grapes, the 

 largest bunches, and better quality, and still keeps the vine vigorous and 

 healthy? 



Many fruitgrowers advocate thinning out the tops of peach trees to let 

 in the sun and light. Downing describes a system of shortening in by 

 going over the whole tree and cutting back the new growth from one half 

 to two thirds, which has the effect of greatly increasing the density of the 

 head or top. Can we get as much or more fruit, and of equal or better 

 quality, by the one way or the other? 



There seems to be a general belief, with a few exceptions, among grape- 

 growers, that nitrogenous fertilizers can not be used in the vineyard with- 

 out spoiling the quality of the grapes. I have tried but one experiment 

 in this direction. Desiring to push a new seedling, which I thought of 

 very good quality, it was manured heavily from the barnyard. That was 

 six years ago, and I have never thought it was even a good grape since. 

 The Delawares in an adjoining row seem also to have lost much of their 

 sprightliness and fine flavor. Since then I have used some form of potash, 

 mostly unleached ashes, for the vineyard. I might have been mistaken in 

 the first jA&ce in the quality of the grape. It seems to me our stations 

 might settle this question for us permanently. The greatest difficulty in 

 the way is the extreme length which the roots of the grape attain. I have 

 traced them sixty feet from the crown and found them as thick through as 

 my finger at that distance, and the Lord only knows how much further 

 they went ! By experimenting with vines long distances apart, I think 

 some certain result might be determined. 



Raising certain kinds of fruit from the seed, to determine which 

 varieties, if any, it would be safe to set for permanent bearing, is another 

 work I would like to see our station undertake. I am the more interested 

 in this work from having experimented quite a little in this direction 

 myself. A number of years ago I recollect reading the experience of one 

 man in raising peaches from Early Crawford pits. As stated, he raised 

 some fifty trees and planted them in orchard form, not one of which 

 produced a good peach. All were poor. This is directly at variance with 

 my experience. Having raised and planted some thousands of this 

 variety, I have yet to see a really poor peach grown from Early Crawford 

 pit; and, with very few exceptions, I can say the same for Crawford's Late, 

 Barnard, and Hill's Chili. Smock and Salway produce peaches resembling 

 very closely their parents outwardly, but as much as seventy-five per 

 cent, are clings. It seems to me, if our station or stations would take up 

 this matter, they might in the end confer incalculable benefits upon the 

 fruitgrowers. 



It will take a long time, years, to fully settle many of the questions 

 herein mentioned, but in the end we should have certainty where now it 

 is all uncertainty. 



As it now is, the beginner in fruit culture, and I might include most of 

 the older ones, does not really know what he should do. He sees an 

 article in some of our horticultural periodicals, and it looks sensible, and 

 he thinks he has got it all right. In the very next issue, perhaps, the 

 whole thing will be contradicted, so he is left stranded. 



What we desire is facts, backed up with authority. Our stations can, 

 and I think will, furnish us both 



