128 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



canes cut back to two eyes. These vines should be evenly distributed on 

 the trellis. 



Whether we grow fruit for our own use or somebody's else use, there 

 need not necessarily be any difference in the manner of culture, nor yet in 

 the variety cultivated. What is good for home use is equally good for 

 others' use. 



EARLY GRAPES THE MOEE DESIRABLE FOR MICHIGAN. 



The time of ripening is highly important in a commercial vineyard. 

 Other things being equal, the early grape is the most desirable, as it is 

 always in good demand. The Concord, as yet, is the grape for the million. 

 The Worden may precede it in ripening, by a few days, but hardly differ- 

 ence enough to make it much of an object to substitute the one for the 

 other. The Delaware always stands upon its merits and good quality, no 

 matter whether it comes in the household or goes into market. Still, with 

 all its good qualities, as well as being early, it hardly receives its due share 

 of attention in our markets. The Brighton, though good in quality, will 

 hardly prove profitable as a market grape. The foliage, growth of wood, and 

 fruiting qualities of the Niagara are all that can be desired in any grape. 

 Moreover, the clusters are large, handsome, and well-shaped. Yet it fails 

 to be a popular fruit in our western markets. If the habit of specking, 

 as the old Catawba used to do, becomes general, being a light-colored 

 grape, it will soon be discarded as a market fruit. As yet we have nothing in 

 the line of grapes that can take the place, either for home use or market, 

 of the Concord and Delaware, and these should be grown in the propor- 

 tion of ten to one. 



AS TO KEEPING GRAPES. 



The practice of holding grapes beyond their ordinary season, in hope of 

 realizing better returns, is a delusion. The demand for any fruit declines 

 after its proper season, because other fruits become more plentiful and 

 naturally take the place of the grape. For home use they may be put up 

 as other fruit, in tin or glass, and be ready for use any time. Again, they 

 may be put in shallow trays or baskets, lightly covered with grape leaves, 

 paper, or other light material, and kept in dry, well-aired compartments, 

 free from frost. In this inexpensive way, even the tender-skinned Concord 

 can be kept till the holidays. The clusters should be carefully selected 

 and handled, and none but well-ripened ones selected. The Diana, owing 

 to its tough skin and later ripening, is one of our best keeping grapes, 

 if not the best, and withal a good table grape. It succeeds well on a light 

 soil and should receive more consideration than it does. 



GIRDLING IS BAD — SPRAYING IS GOOD. 



The practice of ringing or girdling the grapevine, or fruit trees, for what- 

 ever purpose, I believe to be to be entirely pernicious. Where we gain 

 one point in one direction we lose two in another. 



Spraying, where necessary, either for grape rot or other f angous disease, 

 should be applied early and frequently. The material to be used, and its 

 proper composition, are given in all our experiment station reports, and 



