312 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



with judicious management, we hope, to a great extent, to escape 

 its ravages. 



The peach-borer is completely under control; so there is no rea^ 

 son why we may not hopefully plant peaches. 



The Quince and Plum both succeed in so many instances as to 

 encourage future planting, both for home use and market. 



THE GRAPE. 



Connecticut is a land of the vine. So abundant was it found by 

 the early settlers that it was adopted as an emblem on our State 

 escutcheon, the Labrusca, the Aestivalis, and the Cordifolia all 

 being found within our limits. True, owing to the imperfect 

 flowers of many wild vines, they are often barren, but in very 

 many instances the yield is abundant. This also is certain, viz. : 

 that the grape finds a congenial home in our soil, and readily re- 

 sponds to good care and culture. 



No fruit, except the apple, stands before it as an article of food, 

 or in ease of production, or in the certainty of a crop. That it has 

 been too much neglected on the farms of our State is very evident 

 to all. 



No farm, village, or city garden should be without the grape; 

 the brick or stone building, on its sunny sides, should be covered 

 by the vine; even the tight board fence offers a good place for a 

 projecting trellis for the grape. Vines do better so sheltered than 

 in open culture. A cheap cold grapery can be so made as to offer 

 an excellent place for hens in winter and Hamburg grapes in sum- 

 mer, paying full interest and premium on either. Suffice it to say, 

 where farmers, or farmers' sons, or farmers' wives and daughters 

 desire anything of the kind, you may, without folly or extrava- 

 gance, adopt it; it will pay. 



VINEYABD PRACTICE. 



A southerly slope offers a good site for a vineyard; soil being 

 dry and warm. The lines of trellis should not run up and down 

 the slope, but longitudinally with it, to avoid washing. Vines may 

 be planted 8 feet by 9 or 10 feet, as desired; 8 by 9 will give about 

 600 vines per acre, which, with an average of 20 lbs. per vine, may 

 yield 12,000 lbs. per acre, or 6 tons. In the best vineyards, this 

 yield has been realized, which at 3 cents, wholesale, is $360 per acre. 



Shallow culture only should be given. This may be mostly done 



