No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 571 



if we allow it, and by disturbing the slumber of the tired ones put 

 your whole force on the "drydock for repairs" the next day. The 

 work is not play, but it is healthy and will perhaps often save a trip 

 to the Hot Springs or Mount Clemens and leave more money in their 

 pockets. We call this the grape cure and are particular to extol 

 its virtues when we are short of help; so you see we are not en- 

 tirely disinterested in recommending it. 



Now in an article of this kind I cannot, for want of time, go into 

 all of the details. Some things I have doubtless left obscure to you. 

 I have only mentioned the two packages that are most used, but, 

 as a matter of fact, nearly all varieties are put up in smaller pack- 

 ages; Delawares and Catawbas in two, three and four pound baskets. 

 Many Niagaras in 20 pound baskets with raised cover. Well, you 

 may determine from the tenor of this article that I am somewhat 

 of an optimist. The fact of the matter is we do not have any pessi- 

 mists in our section of the country. We think we have almost as 

 much cause for self congratulation as the convivial individual who 

 had been out with some boon companions and had to be carried 

 home at an early hour in the morning. His friends conceived the 

 idea of leaving him in a cemetery they were passing, to sober up, 

 and then concealed themselves to await developments. He finally 

 came back to semi-consciousness with the dawning light and stag- 

 gering to his feet looked at the memorial tablets and said ''Well, 

 if this isn't the resurrection morn, and I am the first man on the 

 ground," 



If a bit of this spirit has crept into this article and if I have said 

 anything I will be sorry for, I am willing to be forgiven. At any 

 rate I am going to extend the olive branch of peace. I am going to 

 invite you to be our guests, the guests of the Horticultural Society 

 of Erie County, which is located at North East, at your next annual 

 meeting. Our invitation is in the hands of your secretary and we 

 hope you will avail yourselves of the opportunity to come and visit 

 us. We will make your stay pleasant and profitable. We will hang 

 our latch strings out. We have abundant hotel room for such of 

 you as we may not be able to induce to come to our homes, and my 

 friend Watts, of State College, will be your guide and see that you 

 get back home reasonably sober. 



Now we have met as "ships that pass in the night." You have 

 been kind to a stranger from Jericho. I sometimes lose my temper, 

 but never my memory, and in thanking you for your patience and in- 

 dulgence, I hope I may be allowed to say that I have enjoyed meet- 

 ing you again very much. I will carry away most pleasant recol- 

 lections of this meeting. If any of you should become "birds of 

 passage" through our country, come and see us. We will be blood 

 brothers. This invitation has all seasons for its own. I thank you. 



THE PRESIDENT : Are there any questions that you would like to 

 ask Mr. Youngs, If so, he will be glad to answer them. 



A Member: I wish he would explain to us how to prune the cur- 

 rants. I have quite a patch. * 



