PROCEEDINGS OF KINDRED SOCIETIES. 261 



matters that must in the future receive special attention. Prevention is 

 perhaps the only remedy, and this depends upon discretion, judgment, and 

 the use of proper apjpliances. The bagging may be a sure preventative, 

 but can never be employed on a large scale when graiaes are sold from 1^ 

 to 2 cents net per pound. The frequent application of the Bordeaux 

 mixture will prove far more simple and expeditious, but will require 

 certain appliances, mainly a force-pump of some kind. The time is not 

 far distant when one or both, or some other remedy, must be employed. 



Pruning the grape can not be taught upon paper. No two persons will 

 prune alike and no person will prune his vines twice alike. This work 

 can only be learned by practical experience, and then it will require years 

 to become an expert. It is safe to say that a majority of grape-growers 

 leave from fifty to one hundred per cent, too much bearing wood upon their 

 vines. In order to realize the best results, no more wood should oe allowed 

 to remain for fruiting than the vigor of the vine can mature. If too 

 much wood is allowed to remain, neither the fruit nor the wood for the 

 next crop will mature in their proper season. This is purely a matter of 

 judgment, and perhaps the least said the better. Suffice it to say that all 

 surplus old wood should be removed and the bearing wood cut back to 

 two eyes. For the first three or four years the i)runings should be mainly 

 for wood and not for fruit. For what we gain by early fruiting we 

 usually lose double on later crops. In our state, and growing our present 

 varieties, it is doubtful if summer pruning should be adopted, except in a 

 limited way by throwing out superfluous shoots, pinching back occasion- 

 ally in case of strong and vigorous growers, or cutting back for the con- 

 venience and safety of late culture. In fall, winter, or spring pruning the 

 wood from two rows may be thrown into the same space, thus having every 

 other space clear. Numerous appliances have been used to bunch and 

 remove this surplus wood. The most convenient tool is a heavy, two-horse 

 drag, which will do the work well as fast as a team will walk. 



Grapes, like most other fruit, should be mature and well ripened before 

 sending to market. The habit, too much in vogue by many growers, of 

 sending sour, immature fruit to market, can not be too severely condemned. 

 It creates a lack of confidence and begets a dislike among consumers for 

 the fruit in its proper season. 



For cutting grapes from the vines and removing imperfect specimens 

 from the cluster, sharp-pointed grape scissors answer a very good purpose. 

 For a package in which to carry the fruit to the jpacking houses, I know 

 of nothing better or more convenient than the common market basket 

 holding 20 pounds. If the package is prejjared by adding two thin strips 

 one and one-half or two inches wide, lengthwise on the bottom, and two 

 corresponding strips on the inside to tack to, to save wear in the frequent 

 handling or moving about, it will last by proper care many years. 



In the matter of shipping packages, some localities use one, some 

 another, and some a variety. The twenty-pound box has been largely 

 used by many of our growers, while others use the eight and ten-pound 

 basket. In York state' the eight and ten-pound Climax basket is almost 

 exclusively used and is also being largely used in this state. It is a com- 

 mon report here, every year, that these eastern growers procure their 

 packages at lower rates than we do, and also lower freights to our western 

 markets. If these statements are correct, it behooves us to see in time 

 what we can do in the matter of packages and freights. At points where 

 grapes are grown largely for market, and particularly back from lake 



