PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 69 



though I never paid any jiarticular attention to the different varieties in, 

 classing them. 



Mr. Brassington: I have a hillside; the soil is gravelly, rather porous, 

 so much so that it does not wash with heavy rains. It is inclined to 

 the east and south, quite steep, but can be cultivated. I intended to 

 set it to grapes, but not having had experience in their culture I really 

 did not know what variety to set, and whether it would be a suitable 

 place to grow them. 



Mr. Benton Gebhart: In regard to soil I can not answer. As to 

 varieties, I have been testing about thirty different sorts and have come 

 down to about three, for profit in marketing, as well as lor my own use, 

 Worden, Niagara, and Brighton. I find that these are the best and most 

 productive, and ripen in time for market. The trouble with many varie- 

 ties is that in this region they will not color, and tlu^ fall atmosphere 

 seems to be too damp. 



Q. Then Concord is not in your list? Mr. Gebhart: That does well, 

 but I claim that Worden is far ahead of it. Empire State has never 

 done anything for me. 



Mr. Morrill: What is your opinion as to exposure? 



Mr. Gebhart: I prefer southeastern, just as warm as we can get it; 

 get away from the lake breeze all we can. If we can get behind a hill, 

 on the southeast slope, I think it is preferable. 



Mr. Burdick: I have had a little experience in growing grapes on a 

 side hill. The hill is rather sandy, top-soil, underlaid with clay. In 

 setting I dug down four feet through the sand to the clay, and filled in 

 the top soil. My varieties are Concord, Delaware, and Worden, and 

 they have done well. The slope is southeast; a pretty steep hill. 



Mr. Brassington: Would you recommend Delaware, Mr. Morrill? 



Mr. Morrill: With us I Delaware sheds its foliage, except under excel- 

 lent care and cultivation. I am not a grape-grower at all, myself. 



Mr. Burdick: With me it carries its foliage well. 



Mr. Morrill: Where it does, it is an excellent grape from which to 

 get money. 



Mr. Slayton: I have had no experience in this county; at Whitehall 

 I cultivated grapes several years. I had only three or four varieties; 

 they did well, but it was on level ground, the first plateau above the lake. 

 Martha and Concord were the ones I had there, mostly, and Wordens. 

 With my present experience I should choose the three named (Worden, 

 Brighton, and Niagara) for family use. Worden and Brighton first, and 

 if you must have a white grape, Niagara. 



Q. What would you consider the best market variety for commercial 

 purposes? Mr. Slayton: For this locality-? That I could not answer. 



Q. Well, in your experience? Mr. Slayton: For our locality', around 

 Grand Rapids, our best market varieties are Worden and Concord. But 

 grapes are dead with us. Seven or eight j-ears ago we could get ten or 

 eleven cents per pound for our first grapes, and they would gradually fall 

 1o three or four cents. Last fall we could not get more than two cents 

 for the first ones on the market. 



Mr. Brassington: Would that x)ay the cost of jirodurtion? 



Mr. Slavton: I do not know. 



