286 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



Iu some of the closely planted vineyards, the grapes commenced to rot as soon as 

 they were formed, and continued to rot until they commenced to ripen. 



There were two or three of our grape growers who had rather a sad experience with 

 their grapes during the past summer. In one or two vineyards, after long pruning, all 

 the fruit that was allowed to remain. And in another, after the necessary spring thin- 

 ning out and pinching, had nearly all of the foliage cut off late in the summer, so that 

 the sun would ripen the fruit. And the result was the same in both cases, the fruit all 

 remained green. 



There are a great many new varieties that are highly praised by those interested in 

 their propagation and sale. But as our experience with them is rather limited, and 

 that not very favorable ; we would prefer to wait before we pass judgment upon them. 

 Below we recommend a list of grapes for market or, for wine — with weight of the 

 must of some of the wine grapes : 



Market — Delaware, Concord, Hartford Prolific and Catawba. 



Wine — Delaware, Concord, Catawba, Clinton, and Norton's Virginia. 



Weight of Must — Oct, 20; Concord, 84; Oct. 19, Taylor or Bullitt, 105; Oct. 22, 

 Catawba, 85 ; Oct. 27, Norton's Virginia and Clinton could not be weighed by a scale 

 that would weigh but 105. 



GEO. B. WORTHEN, Chairman. 



[At the February meeting the above report was called up for discussion. Dr. Lyon 

 recommended the Alvery. Has vines five years old ; quality of the wine about the 

 same as that of the Catawba ; made no rot of last 'summer by side of Catawba, which 

 rotted some. Ripens 10th to loth of September, and will hang on till Oct. 1st. Rich, 

 thin skin, not pulpy. 



President Hammond — I think well of the Alvey. 



A. H. Fuller — Named the Israella. It is eight days earlier than Delaware ; fine fruit 

 and perfect bunches. 



The President — My experience with it is not at all favorable. 



On motion, Alvey, Creveling, Israella and Iona, were recommended for further trial.] 



Special Subject. — Pruning discussed. Most members agreed that they had no special 

 time to prune trees — but most prune in the spring. 



G. B. Worthen — Prune at any time, when, in passing through the orchard, I see any- 

 thing to prune. 



The Secretary — Expressed the conviction that the peach requires far more pruning 

 than it receives ; that an annual cutting back and shaping to low heads, will produce far 

 better results, and prevent much of the decay and breaking down of trees so common in 

 most orchards. 



Hathaway — The time for root-pruning, to insure increased production of fruit, is 

 June and early July, in order to affect fruit buds for the coming year. Other processes, 

 such as ringing, slitting the bark, bending branches, etc., were stated to be productive 

 of the same results — the tendency of all being to check the growth of wood. 



Pruning grapes, it was agreed, should be done in fall or'early winter when not frozen. 



Dr. Hay — I can state a fact which seems to show that grapes may be safely pruned 

 late in the spring, notwithstanding the general teachings to the contrary. I cut one 

 season 300 or 400 vines in spring, after the leaf had begun to grow ; and although they 

 "bled" freely, so much so as to saturate the soil beneath, they all lived and grew wel 



