TRANSACTION'S OF NORTHERN ILI.. lltmTICLM.TURAL SOCIKTY. o23 



would make harbors for mice, which would girdle the vines. He covers 

 his vines by laying them down along the rows, and plowing furrows of 

 earth over them. In spring he uncovers by plowing from the vines until 

 reaching the vines; then finishes the work by lifting out by hand. 



Mr. Galusha replied that he had found covering with earth fatal in 

 several instances ; one of which was at a time when frost was very deep — 

 the sub-soil being frozen solid — and the surface soil above and around the 

 covered vines, thawed out, was saturated with water, and repeated freez- 

 ings and thawings in this state killed the buds — drowned them out. This 

 was on a soil well underdrained, but at the time the surplus surface water 

 could not reach the drains. 



He would not recommend covering vines sufficiently to make a har- 

 bor for mice, as a slight sprinkling of loose material was sufficient ; and, as 

 he had said in the essay, it did not seem necessary to give Concords and 

 Clintons any covering at all ; yet it is a good plan to cut them loose and 

 let them lie upon the ground over winter. 



Mr. Kinney said that prior to three years ago he covered his vines 

 with earth, and lost more than he had since he had left them uncovered. 

 He recommends pruning in spring, just after the buds have opened, as he 

 then knows just what to cut off and what to leave for fruiting. 



Mr. WiER said Catawba grapes had been successfully grown in his 

 vicinity, for many years, by covering the vines — they could not be grown 

 there without protection. Severe pruning in the fall weakens the vitality 

 of trees or vines, and should be avoided ; would prune in spring after the 

 leaves start, and would never cover Concord vines. 



Mr. Cewe thinks the surface roots of the grape are of not much 

 value. He plants his vines about sixteen to eighteen inches deep — having 

 mellowed the soil to that depth — inclining the vines towards the trellises 

 when planted, so they will not be broken in laying down for covering in 

 the fall. 



A member recommended keeping clusters of grapes by packing down 

 in pulverized sugar, using sufficient sugar that the layers may not come in 

 contact with each otlier. 



The President said there was another paper upon the grape which 

 the Secretary would read ; after which the discussion could be resumed. 



The Secretary, Mr. McAfee, then read as follows : 



THE GRAl'i:, AND MV I-:XPERIENCE Wnil IT. 



IIV I). J. I'll'EK, KURiaTON, OGLE CO., II.I.. 



In the fall of 1865, I purchased one thousand grape vines of the fol- 

 lowing varieties : Five hundred Concord, one hundred Hartford Prolific, 

 two hundred Delaware, one hundred Diana, and a few each of lona, Isra- 

 ella, Adirondac, Cuyahoga, Norton's Virginia, Taylor's Bullet, and Con- 

 necticut Seedling, and also set some Clintons of my own raising. I took 



