176 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



slate land so poor that, years ago, it had been hundreds of times sold 

 for taxes. It was not worth one single cent for any use that vou could 

 I)ut it to, and yet the finest grapes that are grown today in the state of 

 New York, and it is a very large industry (the wines produced from those 

 grapes were very highly commended at the exhibit made in Chicago a 

 few years ago) are raised on slate, a calcareous slate. I have though of 

 this subject a great deal, and my own opinion is that the development of 

 the fine qualities of fruit they get there is due largely to the amount of 

 potash in the soil. That soil shows a large percentage of potash, which 

 helps to develop the saccharine matter in those grapes. So I do not know 

 as we can tell exactly how to raise grapes right; but it is sufficient to say 

 that they are, and can be, raised on a great variety of soils, providing 

 the soil has the requisite plant food, but I believe potash is essential, 

 though there is danger of getting too much of it. So much was Prof. 

 Caldwell impressed with the necessity for proper grape food, that he 

 asked of the grape-growers that experiments should be made with 

 potash, using it as a special fertilizer, expressing the opinion that they 

 would see the difference, not only in the perfection of the foliage but also 

 in the amount of saccharine matter that would develop in the fruit after 

 the use of potash. 



Mr. Morrill: Mr. Willard, I am called in some parts of this state a 

 "potash crank." You may be called a potash crank before you get 

 through. 



Mr. Willard : There will be a pair of us. 



Mr. Bradish: I think it has been demonstrated, and I think I have 

 demonstrated it myself, that potash on grapes will make a vast differ- 

 ence in the quality. You take a vine that bears poorly, and a poor qual- 

 ity of grape, and give it plenty of potash, you will get more grapes and of 

 finer quality. Another thing: A vine, unless it is thoroughly fed, one' 

 that is a good yielder, will frequently fail to ripen its fruit, but potash 

 will help it. 



Mr. Sigler: I have used potash with grapes too much. It kills the 

 roots if you get on too much. I had used it ver}' freely on pear trees. It 

 was excellent there, and I thought I would try it on the grapes, and I 

 ruined several vines. It is better to use it in small quantities. 



