MICHIGAN STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 181 



Mr. Haldane — Yes, mine lias with one exception, — in 1869 

 the season was bad. A grape is thoroughly ripe when the 

 stem begins to shrivel. To keep well, grapes must be 

 thoroughly ripe. 



Mr. Fuller — It has been stated that we seldom eat a ripe 

 grape. Eipe grapes are seldom seen in the market, — they are 

 picked before the stem shrivels. 



Mr. Haldane — The earliest grape is the Hartford Prolific. 

 The Delaware is no earlier than the Isabella with me. 



Mr. Bradfield — The Adirondack is the earliest with me. 



Mr. James D. Husted — We regard the Hartford Prolific the 

 earliest. The Ives' Seedling is the next. This is a very prom- 

 ising early grape. They remain on the stems and keep remark- 

 ably well. The Delaware with us usually ripens a little "after 

 the Hartford Prolific. I think the Delaware a valuable vine 

 where you want a first-class grape for your own use. It should 

 be thinned out oftentimes, at least two-thirds. It requires 

 more vitality to produce seeds than pulp, and by reducing the 

 number of bunches you get much larger fruit. This holds 

 good with all fruit. Grapes, when about half grown, remain 

 the same size for several weeks, — they are then perfecting their 

 seeds. Vines when laid down in the winter will bud out much 

 more rapidly. Those not covered will be very tardy in their 

 growth and more scattering. I think it pays well to lay down 

 young vines in the winter. Our young vines are trimmed to 

 stakes, and in the fall we pull out the stakes and lay the vines 

 on the ground. They get much protection from the snow. 

 We prune closely, but not quite so severely as some recom- 

 mend. I think it better to use the trellis, for general culture. 

 Vines should be planted eight feet apart, and be allowed to 

 grow from six to eight feet high. There should be a good 

 share of leaves left to perfect the fruit. Destroy the leaves 

 and the grape will not ripen. The Concord is the most valu- 

 able, reliable, and profitable grape for this section. In dry 

 weather the Delaware fails. The Isabella we regard as very 



