TATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 67 



it proves a fault ) that T have to find with it is this, its first yejn* in 

 bearin*,^ is. that it did not set as much fruit in proportion to its wood 

 as I woukl like to have seen. 



This is all the varieties I can recommend for market in this 

 loealitv. exceptin<i:. perha])s. Go>the Ro<xers No. 1. -which is a profita- 

 ble late «ijrape here, if the fruit is enclosed in pa})er sacks. If not 

 sacked will rot badly. All the newer varieties are proving too tender 

 to stand our climate. 



ASPECT OF VINEYARD. 



Best is Eastern exposure, Northeast, Southeast, South,West, and, 

 last of all. Southwest: these of value in the order in which they are 

 named. The sooner the dew is off the vineyard in the niornin<jj. and 

 the les.s our vineyards are exposed to the excessive heat of our South- 

 west sun the better. 



tiUALITY OF SOIL. 



Our soil is a clay, sandy loam. I have had no experience in any 

 other, but as far as my observation goes, I believe it to be the very 

 best strictly standard. 



TRAINING AND PRUNING. 



I have practiced in my experimental vineyard nearly every kind 

 of training, and after trying all methods would give the preference 

 to the mode introduced by Dr. Hull, of Alton, spiral training around 

 a single stake 5^ or 6 feet above the ground, and spur ])runing. 

 There are other modes of training which have their advantages, and 

 foremost among these is that of our enthusiastic friend, Geo. W. 

 Endicott, of one wire on top of stakes six feet from the ground. 

 After the vines have attained maturity they are fruited only on the 

 wire. This admits of horse culture both ways during the early jjart 

 of the summer, and brings the bearing part of the vine where it is 

 fully exposed to sun and air. Friend Endicott (as you know) had 

 the finest show of grajjcs ever seen in this section trained in this 

 way. From my own experience I think he will find this system not 

 so good the second year bearing. Still it has many advantages, and 

 may prove the best after further trial. As to pruning, spur pruning 

 is the only one ])racticed here, and I think the only feasible one. 



Yours very truly, 



Villa Ridge, III., Dec. 12, 1883. E. J. AYRES. 



