STATE HORTirULTURAT. SOCIETY. g-^ 



successful treatment of the vine viz : the adaptation of the crop to the 

 capabilities of the plant is found, I repeat it, to be alike applicable to 

 our orchard trees. The necessity of so doing with the vine has been 

 made the law, while the same necessity exists with regard to our fruit- 

 trees but has never been sufficiently insisted upon. 



This training and j)runing of the vine has become reduced to a 

 system and the success following it has clearly demonstrated its ne- 

 cessity. 



Societies have been formed to ameliorate the conditicjn of the lab- 

 oring brutes, to jirotect them from their hard taskmasters, but few sym- 

 pathizing friends have raised their voices for the crushing, rending, 

 breaking cruelty to fruit trees. They blossom in beauty, they cover 

 themselves with the foliage so pleasing to the eye — time rolls on and 

 the red and golden fruit peeps out from the green which enshrouds 

 them, man looks on and sees from day to day the bending bough droop- 

 ing to the earth pleading for relief, but no relief comes. — That which 

 was so shapely and beautiful becomes by man's neglect or cupidity dis- 

 torted, broken, and almost worthless. If the vine system had been ap- 

 plied, the trees would have maintained and increased their fair propor- 

 tions, the fruit would have been larger and better, and the owner have 

 been anijily paid for all his extra labor. 



In some few instances this has been practically demonstrated in its 

 application to fruit trees. The peach especially has been subjected to 

 this system. 



\Vhen the fruit has been thinned out, or more correctly speaking 

 when it has been proportioned to the capacity oi the tree, when the 

 Mood has been shortened in and the superfluous parts removed, the re- 

 sults have been precisely similar to those produced under the same 

 treatment of the vine, ('arry this i)rinciple into your orchards and you 

 will not only grow finer fruit, but what is perhaps to you individually of 

 fully as mut h importance, you will tind a ready market and better prices; 

 for this rule holds good, that while fine fruit is eagerly sought for by 

 the buyers, poor fruit is as ( ertainly neglected. Ciood fruit, ready sale, 

 and good prices on the one liand.poor fruit, dull sales, and empty purses 

 on the other. 



1 have alluded briefly to some of the pleasures and advantages to 

 be derived from the culture of the grape; think not however that 

 grape growing is all sunshine. It is true of this as of all other varie- 

 ties of fruits, they need care and intelligent attention. 



Insects injurious will need to be carefully exterminated, while 

 those which aid you and are your friends must be as carefully protected. 



There must not be any strong competition between the growing 

 vine and the growing weed; if you will look carefully after the weed 

 growth, the vine growth will be satisfactory. 



The grape is not alone however in its demands upon your labor 

 and must not suffer in your regard on that account. The time was 



