88 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



that comes to them is through tlie increasing corpulency of the pocket-book. 

 It is quite desirable that our farmers through the country raise grapes for tlieir 

 own use. and it is all folly for them to raise a vine of a kind and ten or fifteen 

 kinds. They will not give each sort the peculiar culture adaj)ted to it any way, 

 and it would be far better that some one sort be chosen and that cared for. I 

 am satisfied that grape growing can be made profitable, and there is plenty of 

 room to expand without danger of over-jiroduction. There is no better crop 

 of fruit to raise, nor more profitable if well managed. 



Mr. Dyckman. — What varieties would you recommend for culture for profit. 



Mr. Winchester. — I am some like Mr. Buell on varieties of apples to plant. 

 I remember he said at one time in answer to what apples he would plant, that 

 he would select in a thousand trees nine hundred lied Canadas, and then one 

 hundred more Red Canadas. The Concord grape is the variety for profit ; it 

 is increasing in popularity every day. I have had abundant opportunity to 

 watch the development of the Chicago market and the Concord grape is in 

 greater demand there than ever before. 



Mr. Lannin, South Haven. — It is my impression that there are grave errors 

 made by beginners in the matter of pruning, and I would like Mr. Winchester' 

 to tell us just what plan he would now pursue. 



Mr. Winchester. — The great error it seems to me among extensive growers of 

 the grape is that they do not give the roots enough to do. The pruning is too 

 short. I believe vines should be put further apart and the arms allowed to ex- 

 tend eight feet at least each way. More grapes will be grown and the vines 

 will be kept more healthy. You will see by this that I use trellises rather 

 than stakes upon which to train my grapes. 



Mr. Chapman of Hillsdale. — I would like to inquire if it is profitable to pinch 

 off the branches when the grape vines are fruiting? 



Mr. AV'inchcster. — The only summer pruning necessary is to pinch off the 

 tops when they reach the upper wire of the trellis. 



Prof. Beal. — I am satisfied the gentleman is quite correct in leaving lots of 

 foliage. The work of the leaves in developing the fruit, even if the direct 

 rays of sun are excluded, is greater than sunlight upon a partially defoliated 

 vine. 



Mr. Engel of Paw Paw. — We will not all agree upon the errors made by the 

 beginners, for if I were to suggest one it would be the making of a trellis. I 

 liavo for twelve years practiced stake training with unbounded success. I call 

 ;3uccess the raising of large crops of grapes continuously at the least expense. 

 J use one stake for each vine practicing the usual system of allowing two canes 

 -for each stake, and often depending on what are termed water sprouts for canes. 

 ■My vines are put six feet apart. The proof of my system lies in my crops and 

 vthe healthy vigor of my vines. 



Mr. Merriman of Grand Rapids. — The principal errors, the error of all 

 •errors made in our climate, I apprehend, is in managing vines so as not to 

 •cover them in winter. 15y a proi)er system vines can be so arranged as to be 

 put under a little earth in winter and the crops ensured, while if the vines 

 remain unj)rotected on the trellis during our severe Avinters we suffer in the 

 diminution of our crops and often in the material injury of our vines. 



Mr. Winchester. — This may Ije the case in the interior of the State, but upon 

 our Lake Shore we need ap})rehend no difficulty from that cause, and our sys- 

 tem of training needs no modifications on account of severe winters with my 

 grape, the Concord. h\ regard to distance apart for vines, my neighbor, Mr. 



