STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 327 



At the meeting' on the 3d of April, Dr. Ilumphrcv made some 

 inciuirics in res^ard to hot-beds, and was replied to by R. \V. Hunt. He 

 stated that he places the manure in a heap some time before it is wanted, 

 and stirs it up frequently, but does not add water to it, though it might 

 be necessary to do so if there were no rains. It is necessary to have the 

 manure heat before it is put into the bed. Three weeks' heat is sufficient. 



Dr. Humphrey never heats the manure before using it, as he thus pro- 

 longs the season of heat. 



T.J. Hale recited his experience in regard to hot-beds. The manure 

 should lie as fresh as possible, and be well worked over. 



The subject of the evening — the grape — was then taken up. 



Mr. Hale said surface culture of the grape is very important. The 

 culture should be deep for vines, garden, and the lawn, and should not be 

 less than two feet. No plow should be taken into a garden. It is no 

 sort of use. The spade and fork should alone be used. On gravelly 

 soil there would not perliaps be the need for deep culture there is here, 

 where we have a clay subsoil. The need of deep culture here is to lower 

 the water table. Unless we assist the Avater in escaping, the ground 

 becomes water clogged. Deep culture should always be performed in 

 the fall, and not in the spring. Does not believe in cultivating a few feet 

 wide for grapes. The vines should be planted just as deep as they were 

 raised. Care should be taken not to plant too deep. After planting, the 

 ground should be kept forked up. jNIulching has a tendency to keep the 

 groimd cold, and is bad for the grape. The roots should be allowed to 

 run into the ground — it is not necessaiy to keep them near the surface. 

 He does not like close pruning. It is not good policy in this country, 

 though it may succeed in the humid soil of Europe. The pul)lic are 

 being taught to plant the rank growing grapes. Any one can raise a 

 Concord grape — or field corn — but he would not reccommend a hor- 

 ticulturist to raise field corn in his garden, or Concord or Hartford 

 grapes in his yard. The slower growing vines, such as the Delaware, 

 lona, and Rebecca, he would recommend. They will not need continued 

 cutting back to keep them in their proper space. The first year of bear- 

 ing, the Concord will exceed the Delaware, but forever thereafter the 

 latter will produce more pounds of much superior grapes. He regards 

 the Delaware as the best flavored of either native or foreign grapes. The 

 lona may prove good. Next to the Delaware is the Diana, which, 

 although somewhat of a gross grower, is a good grape, and one that every- 

 body can grow. The Creveling is good, but its southern origin may 

 make it tender. He said he had planted 39 varieties, and in this way 

 expected to test which is best to grow here. 



Rev. W. S. Balch thought we should try difierent exposures, as this 

 has a great deal to do with the quality of the grape. 



Mr. Hale thought no grape will ripen without exposure to the sun. 



R. W. Hunt was opposed to deep culture, but dicl not think twenty 

 inches was more than surface culture. Gra])e borders are injurious where 

 the land is not drained. He advocated shallow planting. They should 

 not be planted deeper than six inches. 



