304 State Horticultural Society. 



MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE MUNSON GRAPES. 



(M. Oliver Cole, Springfield, Mo.) 



Many persons learning of my experimentation with the Munson 

 Plybrid grapes have manifested a desire for results. 



It is but fair to the originator, and the public as well, to give a de- 

 scription of my soil, topography, etc. The situation is on the crest of 

 the Ozark Mountain range, southern slope, elevation about 1,300 feet 

 above sea level, two miles east of Springfield, Mo. The soil is prairie, 

 formerly black, less than a foot beneath the surface a grayish clay, 

 by continued cultivation and mixing, is now a dark clay loam, sub- 

 soiled before planting. Beneath this, red clay, the surfact drainage is 

 to the south and sufficient; the subdrainage is fair, but not ideal. The 

 land is strong, will grow sixty or seventy bushels of corn per acre. As 

 the soil is inclined to bake after summer rains, I almost invariably give 

 it a shallow stirring after each rain. Cultivation is continued till ripen- 

 ing of earlier fruits, then deferred till after pruning in late autumn, it 

 then receives a shallow plowing, throwing the earth towards the vines, 

 leaving an open furrow for winter and spring surface drainage. 



I have fruited seventeen of the Munson grapes three years, ten 

 kinds one year, and have seven more to fruit next year. It should be 

 borne in mind that grapes fruited on one soil only, often do not deter- 

 mine what they may do in varying soils and situations. ]\Iy descriptions 

 are true of their behaviour in my soil and mine only. Note : The Con- 

 cord, Worden and Niagara succeed well; the Moore's Early, Moore's 

 Diamond, Delaware and Brighton not so well. As the Concord is known 

 to all I have adopted it as a standard for comparison. 



Descriptions : Frcsely, red, vigor below standard, health good, 

 bunch two and a half by one and a half inches, berry size of Delaware, 

 thick skin, but little else than skin and seeds, flavor very good. 



Rommel — White, puny, berry nearly large as Concord, bunch half 

 that size, skin tender, pulp very tender, flavor sweet and very good. 



Brilliant — White, suffers some from cold winters, vigor less than 

 standard, health poor, ripens unevenly, bunch and berry almost large 

 as Concord. 



Beacon — Black, fair vigor and health, bunch and berry equal Con- 

 cord, compact, good bearer, quality not as good as Concord. 



R. W. Munson — Black, fair vigor and health, bunch and berry 

 nearly as large as Concord, flavor very good, imperfect pollinator. A 

 good amateur grape. 



