STaTE rtORTlCULTURAL SOCIETY. 53 



and was exceedingly productive, and one season matured a crop of 300 



pound-i. This does not look as if tlie better the preparation the better 



the result. 



Now, a person that did not know anything about grape culture, 



would say,that the President of our State Horticultural Society says, *' the 



better the preparation the better the results," and might be led astray. 



1 have grown grapes without any rnanure, on a soil that was good enough 



for plastering houses. 1 do not understand that we need as rich ground 



for grapes as we need for corn. The most of our ridges are good 



enough for grapes without manure. 



Mr. Galusha — I would not like to have the idea of non-culture 

 which is here advanced, go out as if it were indorsed by this Society, 

 lor such is not the fact. We know that the grape will adapt itself to a 

 great variety of circumstances and soils. It is a fact that our native 

 grape vines, and especially the Concord, have inherited from their ances- 

 tors an original, hardy constitution, and great power of endurance, and 

 hence will bear much neglect ; but is this any reason why they should 

 be neglected, or why it would not be better to give them needed atten- 

 tion and care. It pains me to hear these remarks of gentlemen, for it 

 will tend, I fear, to encourage neglect. There are gentlemen here who 

 have traveled this State over and over, from one end to the other, and 

 have seen vineyards in every conceivable state of care and neglect, and 

 I ask any such gentleman, who has observed our vineyards from year 

 to year, if it is not true that care and culture produce the best results — 

 the largest fruit and heaviest crops ? 



Mr. VViER — I would give fair cultivation. 



Mr. CIalusha — I believe in thorough culture and frequent stirring 

 of the soil for all crops. Soils frequently stirred absorb most freely the 

 manurial gases and dust particles from the atmosphere. That has been 

 sufficiently proved. Cultivation and pulverization is manuring — and is 

 most effectual. Vou may put manure upon a lumpy soil, and not pul- 

 verize it, and you will not get as good results as you will in any other 

 part of the field not manured, which you_have thoroughly cultivated so 

 that you get all the benefit from the atmospheric manure. The pulveri- 

 zation without manure usually gives a better crop than manure without 

 pulverization. This theory of good cultivation is no mistake. It will 

 hold good. I have made this matter a study, and I know that good 

 culture — and not poor culture — pays. 



