92 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



GRAPE DISCUSSION CONTINUED. 



The hour for recess not having arrived, the society returned to the discus- 

 sion of grapes, taking up the thread where it was broken for the Entomolog- 

 ical exercises. 



A note from D. W. Beadle, of St. Catharines, Ontario, was read upon 



FASHION IN GRAPES. 



I have not been in the business of raising fruit for market, but so far a<? I 

 have learned from those who supply our city markets with grapes, I have 

 received the impression that there is a much larger supply of black grapes in 

 market than of either red or white; aud on this account, those who want to 

 vary the monotony of color on their dessert tables, seek for red or white 

 varieties, or both. Another factor, I am told, is this, the first grapes that 

 come to market are black, usually Champion, and these picked before they 

 are ripe, and in this way an impression is made on the public mind that black 

 grapes are sour; hence, those of any other color are sought for in the expec- 

 tation that they are sweeter, so that, in this way, also, a demand is created for 

 red or white grapes. 



My expectation is that as soon as the supply of red or white grapes is equal 

 to that of black, the price of red and white will be no greater than that of 

 black. I do not see any good reason why they should, though I know there is 

 no such thing as forecasting, with certainty, the popular caprice. 



A note was read by the Secretary on 



PRUNING THE GRAPE. 

 BY N. E. SMITH, IONIA. 



As my vineyard is composed mostly of Concords, I will confine myself to 

 this variety, and first, let me give my opinion that this is the best grape that I 

 am acquainted with for extensive cultivation, in the interior of Michigan. 



It is the old reliable. Plant wide apart, say sixteen feet. Use arms as 

 frame-work, then fill the trellis with last year's growth, which I nail to the 

 bars instead of tying ; fill all open spaces that may be found, as the vine is 

 very pliable. 



I place them right and left, up and down, as the case may require, to fill 

 any vacancy. 



^Each year I cut out all the old wood I can and spread the vines to check too 

 rank growth which tends to lessen the quantity of fruit, and produces poorer 

 wood for next year's fruit. 



Begin to thin and tie up in June. Take out all non-bearing shoots, and 

 when too thick to ripen well, take off bearing canes. If we allow too many young 

 canes to grow they will surely prevent early and satisfactory ripening. The 

 rank, leading shoots must be pinched off to throw the sap into the weaker 

 growth. This is the most effective means of bringing them forward. It takes 

 experience to judge just how many to leave and how many it is best to remove. 

 My vineyard has been bearing 18 years and I have never failed of a fair crop, 

 say two or three tons to the acre. 



