Summer Meeting. 135 



'is 



The grape is probably one of the oldest cultivated fruits, and has 

 an extensive history. The settlers of America could not grow the Euro- 

 pean varieties, so the}' had to graft them on the wild grapevine root of 

 America. This gave an inferior quality to the American grapes, and 

 they have never reached the fine quality of many of the European 

 varieties. 



The grape needs a good, rich, well drained soil. They can be propo- 

 _gated by grafting, layering and cuttings. Make cuttings 12 to 18 inch'js 

 long and put all of the cutting in the ground, except the top bud. There 

 are many ways to prune the grapevine; the Knififin, Fan, Renewal and 

 other systems. The Renewal is probably the best of all, as it keeps most 

 of the vine young and vigorous. The vine and grape are preyed upon 

 i)y many insects and fungus diseases, the most of which are overcome 

 l:)y spraying with arsenical poison. 



Some of the nut fruits are quite profitable, and desirable for home 

 use. The pecan nut should be bedded in the fall, and planted out in the 

 nursery row as soon as they burst open in the spring. Leave them for 

 two years, then transplant, after cutting the tap root, into the nursery 

 row, for another year. Then plant in the orchard 20 feet apart each way. 

 A rich, well drained bottom land is the best place for them. 



Put the chestnut in a box of sand and keep moist, where it will feeze, 

 and plant in the spring the same as the pecan. Land for the orchard 

 should be high and dry. It is about as cheap to buy pecan and chestnut 

 trees as to grow them yourself, unless you make a business of it. If I 

 were growing a nut orchard of my own, I think I would grow some 

 hazelnuts. And I think I would have some persimmon trees in my fruit 

 -orchard. 



Let me emphasize the fact that there is no use to plant any of these 

 things if you do not care to cultivate them. 



Nearly all the varieties of evergreens are grown in France, and it 

 is cheaper to import them than to grow them here. More care must be 

 taken in planting evergreens than deciduous trees. The roots should be 

 put in water as soon as taken from the ground, or kept moist in some 

 way till they are planted again. They are more sure to live if they are 

 transplanted every year or two while young, as they get a better, more 

 compact root system to feed the plant. 



The is one great enemy that the fruit grower and nursery man have 

 to contend with, and which is not thoroughly understood; and that is 

 the fungi. 



Fungus was not known fifty years ago, but shortly after this time 

 AI. A. Curtis collected fungi in the Carolinas, and sent them- to Burkley, 

 an English nobleman. Forty years ago Peck took up the general study. 



