526 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



much. In such a case I would spriukle the floor with water sufficient to couu - 

 teract its effects. As warmth and excessive moisture are the two principal 

 agencies in the ripening of fruit, it follows that whatever will secure the oppo- 

 site of these conditions will best insure success in the late keeping of fruits. 



AYhen apples have been properly packed I think nothing is gained by winter 

 sorting. Better let them remain undisturbed till wanted for market. I find 

 that the greatest difficulty commences with the opening of spring weather, and 

 the difficulty increases as the weather grows warmer. How to prolong the 

 temperature and condition in which they have been kept through the winter 

 seems to be the question that involves the success of late keeping. One writer 

 advances the idea of a double or two story cellar. Ice might be used if such 

 an atmosphere could be rid of its excessive moisture. One the whole, our 

 more northerly friends, with their prolonged winters, have the advantage of 

 us in keeping fruit. 



When the question of cheap transportation shall be solved, and we can send 

 our apples north to winter, we may expect to feast upon them in June. Or 

 had we a Mount Washington, with its railroads, w^e might reach the result by 

 a short cut. As it yet remains, we are obliged to confine our efforts at late 

 keeping to such varieties as can best withstand the changes to which they are 

 unavoidably subjected. It may be asked, will all this care and labor pay in 

 dollars and cents ? I have repeatedly sold apples in June for twenty shillings 

 p^r bushel that would only bring half that sum by the barrel in the fall. At 

 this day, when the tendency is to quickly overdo in turn everything that pays, 

 he who, stepping aside from the beaten path, can successfully overcome the 

 obstacles that nature thrusts in the way of the husbandman, whether of blight 

 or destroying insect, dry summers or change of season, will be most sure of 

 success. 



GRAPE CULTURE. 



AN ESSAY READ BEFORE THE GRAND RIVER VALLEY HORTICULTCTRAL SOCIETY AT 

 ITS MARCH MEETING IN 1S75, BY THE PRESIDENT, E. BRADFIELD, 

 OF ADA, KENT COUNTY. 



Gentlemejst: — In complying with your request to read a short paper on the 

 planting and care of grape vines, the first two years after planting, for the 

 purpose of eliciting discussion on the subject, I respectfully submit the fol- 

 lowing : 



Any soil that will produce a good crop of wheat, corn, or vegetables, will 

 produce grapes with equal care and cultivation. 



But to secure the best results, and immunity from drought and excessive 

 moisture, the ground should be trenched, inverting the soil from eighteen 

 inches to two feet deep, and this can be best done in the garden with the spade. 



If a single vine is to be planted, dig a hole three or four feet square and of 

 the required depth, and if the sub-soil is poor remove entirely eight or ten 

 inches of the bottom. On returning part of the soil to the hole thoroughly 

 mix it with some rotten manure and leached ashes, adding enough surface soil 

 to supply the subsoil removed. If a row is to be planted, fill the first excava- 

 tion with the next three feet in the direction of the row, mixing in manure 

 and removing the subsoil as before, until the whole strip is thus worked, fill- 



