344 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



GRAPES. 



The subject assigned for the paper this morning, although consisting of a 

 single word, is capable of several divisions, upon any one of which a volume 

 might be written. But it is neither my purpose to make such divisions nor to 

 write such volumes. The history of the grape is almost as old as that of man 

 — running as it does well back into the patriarchal ages — long before other 

 fruits commonly cultivated in this country were even mentioned. There is a 

 story told of the origin of the grape something like the following: A certain 

 prince while traveling in a foreign land, discovered a small vine, and desiring 

 to take it with him, dug the vine aud placed it in the skeleton of a bird. As 

 he continued his journey it grew so rapidly that he placed it in the the skull 

 of a lion, and, finally, as it continued to grow, it was placed in the bones of an 

 ass. Finally, on reaching home, it was planted, when its growth was wonder- 

 ful, and soon produced large clusters of most luscious fruit, which was found 

 good to eat, and the juice was expressed, and when man drank it, at first he 

 sang like a bird, but later he fought like a lion, and lastly he became stupid as 

 the ass. The moral of this story is plain : If you do not wish your mane or 

 ears to grow long, better use the juice, pure and fresh from the grape. I do 

 not vouch for the correctness of this story, yet I can give the following in its 

 support: 1st. It was told by a horticulturalist at a horticultural meeting. 

 2d. It was published in a newspaper. 3d. Although fifteen years have passed 

 since it was related, I have never seen it contradicted. Although the history 

 of the grape is so ancient, yet the varieties that we cultivate mostly, as well as 

 our methods of culture, have all had their origin within the recollection of 

 many who are present here to-day. Thirty or forty years ago grape culture in 

 the United States was confined to a few localities only, mostly among German 

 settlers. Twenty years ago there was probably but one vineyard, worthy the 

 name in Lenawee county, and that consisted mostly of the Isabella variety. 

 At the present time there are probably more grapes produced and consumed in 

 this county during the grape season, than any one other kind of fruit. It 

 uniformly yields large crops of the most healthful and luscious of all fruits. 

 Its cultivation is easy and simple, requiring no more care, if as much, as the 

 same area of land planted in corn and potatoes. Any good strong land 

 which is well drained, either naturally or artificially, will answer for the pro- 

 duction of the grape, a strong clay or limestone soil generally having the pref- 

 erence. The land should be thoroughly prepared before planting by plowing 

 as deep as possible, working in an ample supply of fertilizers, if not already 

 well enriched. There are those who will tell you that any land is rich enough 

 for grapes, but don't you believe a word of it. The very best garden soil is 

 none too rich for best results. I do not mean to say that poorer land will not 

 produce fair grapes, but not the best. Grapes, as a rule, should have thorough 

 tillage, a few inches of surface soil kept well stirred and pulverized. Yet some 

 growers succeed well by mulching the ground so as to keep the grass and weeds 

 down. This latter method is often the only one available where the trellis is 

 so situated that cultivation cannot be had. 



Of all the fruits that we can cultivate in this climate, the grape is, without 

 question, the very best. It is needless to talk of its market value these times, 

 when the bottom is knocked out of all our markets, but it is just as luscious 

 and pleasant to the taste as though it was worth ever so much; and as the 

 grape season is now upon us, we would recommend everybody, sick or well, young 



