338 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



The Treasurer reported that the receipts of the exhibition were $5 1 . 

 The expenses, fortunately, covered the receipts, so that there being noth- 

 ing to quarrel about harmony reigns in the horticultural world. 



Mr. J. E. Sawyer sent twenty varieties of winter apples, which were 

 very large and fair. The committee adjudged the premium, offered by 

 Mr. Grassly, of twelve loaves of bread, to Mr. Sawyer. The names of 

 these varieties opened up a new vocabulary to the members present. 



There was considerable discussion on Orchard Fruits, and kindred 

 subjects. 



NOVEMBER MEETII^^G. 

 At this meeting Mr. B. H. Chapman read the following essay : 



THE CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE. 



No doubt more has been written on the cultivation of the grape than 

 any other fruit, since the spies brought it from the land of Canaan. No 

 wonder they were delighted with a country so prolific of grapes. See 

 the wisdom and kindness of God in giving a grape-growing country to 

 His chosen people. I do believe the grape is the best, as well as the 

 most profitable, of all the fruits ; and the doctors say the most healthy. 

 The grape, as well as the beautiful apple, has been the delight of Chris- 

 tian writers from ancient date. And the slothful husbandmen (in the 

 parable) were upbraided, when the owner of the vineyard came for grapes, 

 but beheld the wild grapes. So now, if we expect good grapes, we must 

 give them careful attention and good cultivation, or we shall have worse 

 than wild ones. And now we come to our subject, the Cultivation and 

 Care of the Vine. To this intelligent audience I need not say much of 

 the preparation of the ground. I would say, select high, rolling ground 

 as a site for your vineyard. If clay subsoil, lay five-inch tile drains as 

 near as twenty or thirty feet, and three feet deep. Next, subsoil deeply. 

 The best exposure is that which slopes gently towards the southwest, 

 a southern inclination being preferable. Now lay off your ground in 

 rows. I planted my vines six feet in row, and rows six feet apart ; am 

 satisfied they are too near. I think, for strong-growing vines, rows eight 

 feet apart and ten feet in the row better. Let the rows run north and 

 south. The vines must have sun and air, to be healthy and to produce 

 good fruit. Do not allow a spear of grass or a weed to grow in your 

 vineyard. If your ground is not much rolling, ridge it a little for the 

 row, then work the soil a little towards the vine, making a little sag 

 between them, so as to prevent the water from settling to the roots. No 

 grape vine will be healthy long if its roots are water-soaked, either in 



