Slimmer Meeting. 57 



"& 



this has been discussed so often. If every member will give his ex- 

 perience the object of the society will, of course, be fulfilled. 



' 'If you have a precious thought, 

 That to you has gladness brought, 

 Shrine it not within your breast, 

 Write it and make others blest! 

 If you have a loving word. 

 Speak it where it can be heard." 



GRAPES. 



Mr. RommelL— I am sorry to say that the grape growers of Mis- 

 souri are just a little behind the times in raising and handling grapes. 

 They just grow them for wine purposes. Every one is familiar with 

 the Concord from the East and yet we never see any of our own rais- 

 ing on the markets anywhere. Our grapes are almost all gone when 

 they come in with theirs. Now I am perfectly satisfied that we can 

 grow a better grape than the Eastern man. It is just because we have 

 not tried it, we do not pay enough attention to it. Of course there 

 is a good deal in the variety of grape. But there is a good deal in the 

 way you manage your grapes. Thinning, pruning, spraying and the 

 like are not done as they sholud be and I believe that it is because 

 so many of us lack information. We are too old style, we are not 

 up with the times when it comes to the grape question. We still 

 hold to old varieties that we had years, years ago. We have new 

 varieties now and better ones too. Now comes the question which are 

 for market and which are the wine ones? The Virginia is a wine 

 grape. Does very well and is a late grape. Elvira is a first class wine 

 grape and is not as much subject to the rot as some others. The 

 Woodruff is a good grape for table use. It is not very bad to rot. 



Of course we do not give a description of the Concord, every 

 one knows it. The only objection to it here is that it rots. Many 

 spray for that and it is alright. But I have raised fine ones by bagging 

 them. I have taken the first prize at the Hermann fair on my grapes. 

 Those were some I had bagged. So many asked what variety they 

 were, they did not know them. They retain their fine bloom on and no 

 rot and nothing the matter with them, perfectly sound and fresh.. 

 There is another advantage, they last longer. Of course, they don't 

 ripen quite so early but you can leave them on the vines so much 

 longer. Thgy wont wilt so soon. It will certainly pay to bag your 

 grapes. 



Question : When do you put the bag on them? 



