34 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Mr. Nelson — I have noticed where the vines were covered deep, 

 they were injured. I have also noticed that where I have covered with 

 a very little earth, it is successful. When I first commenced to cover. I 

 covered deep, and lost my vines. But as Mr. Galusha remarks, I have 

 had them do as well with no covering at all. 



• Mr. Scofield — The best crop of grapes that I ever raised I raised 

 last season — without protection, save that afforded by a few old maple 

 trees. While in my yard I had vines that I had carefully cared for, and 

 protected, and the result was not more than one-fourth of a crop. 



Mr. Freeman — I would recommend the Perkins as a better grape 

 than the Hartford. 



Mr. Wier — I have fruited the Perkins this year and find I prefer it 

 to the Hartford — indeed, I think a great deal of it ; and I want to call 

 the attention of this Society to one other grape — I mean the Telegraph. 

 It is, for family use, almost equal to the Delaware. 



Now, speaking about covering the vines, I have this to say. In a 

 vineyard of two or three hundred vines, I had a portion of them covered, 

 another portion, not covered, was laid upon the ground, and a third 

 part was left tied up to the trellis ; and now for the result. Every one 

 of the vines in the spring were dead, except those tied up to th^ trellis. 

 The roots were all right, but the canes were dead 



Dr. Humphrey — If the vineyard is planted upon flat ground 1 

 would not cover. Upon my flat ground I plow furrows together, so that 

 the vines stand upon a ridge — and in this way, I can safely cover my 

 vines. 



Mr. Wier — Ordinarily my plan is to lay down my vines, and lay 

 the stakes upon them to hold them in their place ; this is the only pro- 

 tection, I think, that is necessary in our latitude. 



Mr. H.ammond, of Warsaw — I do not think that you can fix upon 

 any one plan, that will invariably produce the best results. In some 

 cases where vines have not been cared for, we had the best results. I 

 have in mind now one vineyard that was not even cultivated, and yet 

 from it was gathered one of the finest crops of grapes that I ever saw. 

 I also have in mind a vineyard, planted by a gentleman, after the Dr. 

 Grant plan. The soil was spaded deep and filled with manure, the vines 

 planted and tilled with care. For a few years the vines bore light crops, 

 but now the vines are ikad. I do not recommend the non-culture sys- 



