278 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Pruning will now claim our attention. Without any attempt at a 

 scientific explanation how, I will just say that three or four canes of 

 thrifty new wood should be left for the coming crop. These canes will 

 have from thirty to 1hirty:five buds, which is plenty if the vineyard 

 is well up in fertility ; if the land is thin and over-cropping has been 

 allowed one-half this number is ample. 



The time for trimming should immediately follow our Indian sum- 

 mer, then the leaves are off and the wood is matured ; we will get well 

 punished if pruniug is left until mid-winter or early spring. Mud and 

 snow boot top deep will be your portion with no mitigating compensa- 

 tion ; besides you have contracted rheumatism, neuralgia or bronchitis. 

 Another reason for pruning in the fall is that we get rid of fungi spore 

 and insect eggs by burning all trash and accumulated debris. 



The only summer pruning that we practice is to pinch off the end 

 of the new vine beyond the second leaf just after -the fruit has set. 

 Some question its utility but we think it is beneficiaL The question of 

 what varieties to plant is not the least important to decide. The black 

 grape is the most popular. For commercial planting three well known 

 varieties stand at the head, namely : Moore's Early, Worden and Con- 

 cord, ripening in the order named with intervals of ten days. Of the 

 many new black grapes before the market, one in particular is worthy of 

 mention, namely : CambelPs Early ; many speak in praise of it ; we think 

 it has come to stay. Telegraph, Janesville and Wilder are very popu- 

 lar with some growers. 



Red grapes are evidently gaining ground. Tbe best of all is the 

 Brighton. We have not yet eeen its superior; then follow the Dela- 

 ware, Lindley, Woodruff, Salem, Wyoming, Massasoit and Goethe. 



White grapes have many admirers; the most fastidious tastes can- 

 not fail to be pleased. Of the especial favorites we name Niagara, 

 Pocklington, Moore's Diamond, Martha. Lady Washington and Mis- 

 souri Riesling. We cannot pass the subject of varieties without call- 

 ing attention to the new seedling and hybrids of T. V. Munsoh of Den- 

 nison, Texas. The newer strains of Texas Post Oak, or Vitis Lincecumii, 

 are worthy of the grower's careful attention. Some of them have been 

 known to do well through a dry and hot season in tbe southwest when 

 the Concord was a failure. 



The Vinifera varieties belong to southern and western Texas and 

 California; they have no place in our catalogue. 



In our experience with the vine, we have not been afflicted with 

 mildew or rot. 



The Bordeaux mixture is the great remedy ; apply it plentifully 

 once before budding and twice after at intervals of two weeks. The 



