370 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



I have had in mind this class of people ^vho engage in horticulture, as well 

 as those who, by the occupation, gain tlieir support, and, wliile claiming little 

 of originality and only a beginning in method, I still hope tliis abridgment of 

 current thought, conversation, and experience may be pleasing and instructive 

 to the readers of this volume. 



In tlie arrangement of matter I have placed Horticultural experiments fore- 

 most, followed by various sections upon Pomology, to wit : Varieties and Culti- 

 vation ; Pruning; Protection; Transplanting; Notes of State Orchard Com- 

 mittee ; Controlling the Bearing Year; and the Preservation of Apples. Next 

 in order I have placed Floriculture, witli the following sections: Hints for the 

 Plower Garden ; Decorative Plants; Bedding Plants and Cut Flowers. The 

 next division is devoted to the Vegetable Garden, followed by Insect Notes. 



Succeeding these sections will be found the following order of general topics : 

 Landscape Gardening ; Arboriculture ; In and About the Ilouse ; and Scien- 

 tific Horticultural Notes. Sechetary. 



HORTICULTURAL EXPERIMENTS. 



TRAIXIXG THE GRAPE. 



There is a considerable discussion among graj^e growers as to the relative 

 value of long and short arm pruning of tiie grapevine, the question turning 

 upon the quantity and quality of tiie fruit. Prof. W. J. Beal, who acted upon 

 the Orchard Committee of the State Pomological Society this season, was quite 

 interested in an experiment now being carried on by John Whittlesey, of St. 

 Joseph, in whicli he is illustrating side by side the long and short arm systems. 

 The following communications will be interesting as giving the results of Mr. 

 Whittlesey's experiment at this date : 



Charles W. Garfield : 



Dear Sir : — I received a note from Prof. Beal after his return home, request- 

 ing from me a statement of grapes in pounds taken from the vines with long 

 arms, and also the pounds from short arms, occupying the same distance in 

 feet of the long arm vines. I cannot give the amount in pounds, as I have not 

 yet taken the grapes from the vines of either. I called on J. A. Donaldson, 

 one of the most intelligent of our fruit growers, to make an examination of the 

 two systems I am practicing in growing the grape. The result of his examina- 

 tion I herewith inclose. I observe he only has reported as to two vines with 

 long arn)s. whereas I called his attention to one of 54 feet and one of 08 feet, 

 Avhich have the same good show of fruit and quality as the two he reported on. 



JoHX "Whittlesey. 



St. Joseph. 



The letter appended is the opinion of Mr. Donaldson. 



John Whittlesey : 



Dear Sir: — In accordance with your request I examined some vines in your 

 vineyard with a view to determine the relative merits of the long and short arm 



