STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 79 



back as they had forms on. I cut off the frozen part of them, hut 

 it would have been better if T had ])r()ken off the whole shoot, for 

 then tlie secondary buds would have s})routed, and would have pro- 

 duced at least a small crop. This was the case with some of the 

 Elvira and Noah, which were the only grapes we got. My young 

 vineyard (only a snudl one, the old one having been grubl^ed up two 

 years ago ) is ])rotected on the north side by timber. This, })revent- 

 ing a free circulation of air, probably was the cause of so much 

 damage by the frost, for T know of other vineyards at a distance 

 from the timber, where the winds could play freely, which remained 

 uninjured, or where the damage was small, but notwithstamling 

 that, they did not fare much better, for being planted mostly with 

 Concord the rot destroyed nearly the whole crop. In some vineyards 

 the loss was not quite so severe; the most favored ones had about 

 half a crop. The varieties which proved best, generally, were the 

 Elvira. Perkins, Ives, Norton, and Cynthiana. I also have the Noah, 

 and have great hopes for it." 



I have no doubt Mr. Balsizer is quite correct in ascribing the 

 damage by frost to his vineyard to the timber, which prevented a 

 free circulation of air.- In Mr. Englemann's case the damage can 

 be traced to the same and no other cause. The vineyard that he 

 says suffered so badly is on quite elevated ground and has timl)er on 

 three sides of it. The other, though on lower ground, is more ex- 

 posed to a free current of air. I have for years been perfectly satis- 

 fied, from my own observation, that timber belts are no protection 

 to fruit, but the reverse. 



' These reports are certainly not very encouraging for grape 

 growing, and the question may be asked, will grape growing pay? 

 I think it will. There is no crop grown, whether fruit, grain, grass, 

 or vegetables, but what is suljject to seasons of failure. We have 

 had some wet, unfavorable seasons for grape growing, but I look for 

 a change, and dryer seasons will give us paying crops again. In 

 seasons that are not too wet the grape is as sure a crop as the ajiple, 

 and none are more profitable. 



I have no doubt we will have too look to new varieties to meet 

 with the best success possible. The Concord, which has been the 

 graj)e for the million, can no longer l>e relied u]ion. In our section 

 it has, from some cause, beccjuie subject too much to mildew and rot, 

 and we must look to some new and more vigorous blood; not that I 

 expect to find a grape that will resist disease forever, but for at least 

 a series of years, as has the Concord. By the time the newer ones 

 fail there will be other seedlings grown to take their places. 



E, C. Hathaway, of Ottawa, member of the same committee, 

 being absent, the Secretary, who had received his report, inquired if 

 it was the wish of the Society to have it read. It was moved by 



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