184 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



The next best to the Heart of Oaks, is the Mulberry, which has generally been con- 

 sidered occupying the first rank among our indigenous trees. 



Over Cup Oak and Black Walnut do not make profitable posts. Dogwood and Apple 

 Tree make the best of mallets and chisel haudles. They should be seasoned in the stick, 

 in a dark place, standing on end. The best time to set posts is when the ground is quite 

 dry. The holes should be dry or bored while the ground is moist, thereby savins a great 

 deal of hard work. White Oak and Hickory Sapling Grape Stakes should be peeled as 

 soon as cut ; also sharpened and stood, sharpened end up, to season. They will last from 

 six to eight years. 



The above remarks apply to timber for all purposes of building. Firewood should 

 be cut when the bark adheres to the wood. 



BENJ. F. LONG. 



EXPEKIENCE WITH GRAPES. 



My farm is on the southwest }£ of Sec. 11, 5 south, 6 west of the 3d P. M., on the 

 dividing ridge between the Okaw and the Mississippi ; polls to the north and south-east 

 and west, timber land— the original growth, Hickory, Black and White Oak, Black 

 Walnut, Sassafras, with a few Persimmons and Red Bud ; soil gray, over a porous yellow 

 subsoil. No hard pan or blue clay in 35 feet. The ground for vineyard prepared with 

 the plow, by first plowing the lands the width of the rows, finishing where they are 

 to be planted, and then plowing bare, so as to raise a ridge in which the vines were 

 planted. I received, in the fall of 1864, the following varieties : Concord, Norton's Vir- 

 ginia, Clinton, Hartford Prolific, Delaware, Herbemont, Diana, Creveling, Taylor or Bul- 

 let, Rogers' Hybrids, Nos. 3, 4, 15, 19, 22, 23, 35 and 43 ; Allen's Hybrid, Union Village , 

 Maxatawny, Rebecca, North Carolina, eedling Bloods, Black Cassady, Mary Ann, 

 Logan, Iona, Isabella, Adirondack and Cuyahoga ; these were all planted in the spring 

 of 1865; in the fall of 1865 I received Union Village Seedling and To-Kalon. Of these, Rog- 

 ers' Hybrids, 3, 15, 19, 22, 23, 35 and 43, 1 can see no difference in vine, leaf or fruit ; 4 is 

 a very different grape. The Delaware, Cuyahoga, Rebecca, Logan, Mary Ann, and Cas- 

 sady have never fruited, and have made very little growth. Taylor or Bullett has made 

 a rampant growth, but no fruit. Rogers' Hybrids have made good growth, and a good 

 crop of fruit. Creveling, good growth, but little fruit. Concord and Hartford Prolific, 

 rampant growers, and fruited well in both 1867 and 1868. Clinton has fruited little, but 

 is a great grower. Norton, little growth the two first seasons. The last two has grown 

 well, and this season a good crop of fruit. The Iona, Isabella, Adirondack, Union Village 

 and Union Village Seedling have made very poor growth, and no fruit yet, and, I fear, 

 never will. The To-Kalon and Maxatawny fruit this season, but not much growth. 

 Herbemont, a very rampant grower and good bearer. Diana, very little force any way. 

 This is my experience with grapes : The Concord first ; Hartford Prolific, second ; Her- 

 bemont, Norton and Clinton, next. These three are all small berries. Rogers' Hybrids 

 I like well. My mode of training has been on Fuller's Arm System. This fall I have 

 pruned on nearly every system with which I am acquainted, and some on a plan of my 

 own. All of which is respectfully submitted. 



WILLIAM COLWEL. 



