56 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



Question. Will the gentleman give us the method by 

 which Isabella grapes can be grown to perfection ? 



Mr. Williams. I cannot tell you how to do it. I know I 

 used to do it. In fact, they grew themselves. We put them 

 on a trellis and let them run. We merely pruned them to 

 one or two buds, and we could get as fine clusters of Isabellas 

 and as fine berries as you can get from Rogers' Hybrids; 

 but we cannot do it now. 



Question. Will the gentleman explain whether pruning 

 has ever been a success with any of the Scuppernong varie- 

 ties of grapes ? 



Mr. Williams. I should not expect to grow the Isabella, 

 or any of that class, if I did not prune pretty severely, because 

 any grape-vine that will produce fruit will kill itself by over- 

 bearing if you do not prune it. The great trouble is, that we 

 expect the vines to do too much. You might as well expect 

 a five or ten-year-old child to do the work of an adult. Up 

 the Hudson, the section Mr. Augur speaks about, the best 

 growers estimate on fifteen pounds per vine. If they can get 

 fifteen pounds from a vine they are satisfied. 



Mr. Augur. Speaking of the Isabella grape, we have one 

 vine of the Isabella which is on an arbor between the main 

 part of the house and the L, and I think we have not missed 

 a crop of well-ripened fruit for the last eight or ten years. 

 This fall we have enjoyed them exceedingly. But this vine 

 is partially sheltered. We avoid cold currents, and perhaps 

 dew, to some extent, and we always expect a well-ripened 

 crop from that vine. 



Mr. . I have no theory, but I have a bit of experience 



that may be useful. I have a Diana vine which was set out 

 twenty years ago, and it soon covered the side of the house, 

 embracing about 1,800 square feet. I have not failed of a 

 crop but one year, and that was when I took it down and 

 trimmed it. I have had from four to six bushels of well- 

 formed clusters every year. 



Mr. . My experience has been directly the reverse of 



