506 Transactions of the 



meeting that I will be brief. In preparing the land for a vineyard I 

 plow deep (Summer fallow land is preferable), thoroughly pulverize and 

 roll smooth; then lay the land off with a line and pole, and set stakes 

 for each vine, after which the vines or cuttings are planted with a spade. 

 Prefer planting two cuttings at each stake. The cost of plowing, pul- 

 verizing and planting will not exceed twelve dollars per acre. The 

 cost of cuttings will depend on the varieties and number planted to the 

 acre, say from six to twelve dollars per acre. The distance for planting 

 will be governed by the variety and for what purpose the grape is to be 

 used. For market I plant the Mission and other string growing grapes- 

 eight by eight. For wine we are planting six by six, and small growing- 

 varieties less. The first and second year cut the vine back to two or 

 three buds; the third, tie them up to the stake, and at the Fall pruning 

 leave the body of the vine fourteen or sixteen inches high. The strong- 

 vines would need tying up the second Fall. I never Summer prune the 

 vines. Get a small crop the third and fourth year; commence paying 

 the fifth. The last season our Mission vines eight and ten years old 

 produced from eight to ten tons per acre, which is not an unusual crop. 



The selection of varieties most profitable for planting in different 

 localities is one of the most difficult points to determine. I have selected 

 the following, which are grown around here and sutticiently tested for 

 wine or market to warrant planting. For earh r market the Madeline 

 Chasselas de Fontainbleau and Lady Sweetwater ripen the first of August 

 and ship well; Black Malvoisie, Black Olive, Black Hamburg, last of 

 August, bear well and fine flavor; Black Prince ripens from September 

 first to tenth, strong grower, large bearer, ships well, one of the most 

 profitable at present; Jiien de Nice, good grower, bears well, fine color, 

 last September; White Muscat of Alexandria, fine flavor, sets poorly 

 some seasons, September; Black Morocco, fine large grape, shy bearer, 

 brings a high price, October; Black Ferrara, grows and bears well, 

 ripens late and keeps longer than any grapes we have in cultivation. 

 Mission, when grown for table use, is large sized, fine color and flavor, 

 and pays well. For wine we are planting White Frontignan; will pro- 

 duce from three to four tons to the acre; considered one of the best 

 of the musk grapes; ripe middle of September. Peisling, White Tokay, 

 Berger, Chasselas de Fontainbleau, all bear well and ripen early. Zin- 

 findal bears large crops, makes an excellent white or red wine. Black 

 Malvoisie, fine red or white wine. Black Burgundy, good bearer; makes 

 red wine of good body. Black Malaga, uood bearer; fine musk flavor. 

 Mission I find best for port, sherry, and madeira. The last two will not 

 develop their flavor until after the fifth year. 



For Raisins. — White Malaga, good bearer; oval berry of good size; 

 hard, pulpy grape, which dries well; rii~>ens middle of September. White 

 Muscat of Alexandria makes a fine flavored raisin; ripens rather late 

 some seasons for drying outside. 



We have a great many other varieties growing around here, all of 

 which mature before the frost of November, many of which will, no 

 doubt, prove profitable. 



GEOBGE WEST, 



Stockton. 



