192 REPOET OF THE SECRETARY OF THE 



people are used to wine it is preferred without the sugar. 

 Wine, to keep well, must have spirit, and wine of a good 

 quality must be a stimulant, and sugar produces it. Here, 

 grapes are more sour, and require more sugar than those from 

 hotter climates. 



Mr. Bradfield — Is not the wine made without sugar of the 

 most temperate character ? 



Mr. Haldane — I claim to be a temperance man, and if I 

 thought wine would injure the temperance cause I would plug 

 up my wine. 



The President — AVould it not be safer to pull the plugs out ? 

 (Laughter). 



After recess, in which the wines of Mr. Haldane Avere 

 debated in comparison with Khine wine, and the apples on 

 exhibition were examined by the committee, the following 

 paper was read by Mr. Husted : 



THE INFLUENCE OF THE STOCK ON THE GRAFT. 



In considering the influence of the stock upon the graft 

 growing thereon, or vice versa, we must not lose sight of the 

 fact that either vegetables or fruits grow on soils adapted to 

 their wants, and being fully supplied with the elements of 

 fertility, will yield vastly more in quantity, and of superior 

 quality, than when grown on unfavorable soils, and unskillful 

 or deficient cultivation. 



Fruit groAvn on good soil, where every attending circum- 

 stance is favorable to its fullest development, and aided with 

 good cultivation, is so greatly superior in flavor, texture, size, 

 coloring, and productiveness, as to be often regarded as a new 

 variety, and a great acquisition to our list of fruits; while 

 another tree of the same variety, and growing perhaps in the 

 same orchard, but on a poor or unfavorable location, with poor 

 cultivation, will produce fruit so much below the average 

 standard of excellence for that variety as to be recognized with 

 difficulty. 



This variation in the growth of the tree, in its productive- 



