SECRETARY'S PORTFOLIO. 



417 



in a tree that it will on a trellis, and where an effort is made to have it 

 occupy both, it is always found that its main energies are expended in the 

 tree. A newly planted vine should have brush instead of a stake, as it has 

 no means of clinging to the latter. If the tendrils can find nothing to take 

 hold of, they continue in motion for a time, reaching in all directions, and 

 this is exhausting to the vine. For this reason skilled gardeners often cut off 

 the tendrils. When growing vines on stakes, I have often driven lath nails 

 in convenient places for the accommodatiou of the tendrils, says Mr. Craw- 

 ford. Although grapes do so well on trees without much care, let no one 

 suppose that he can accomplish anything by planting vines at the roots of 

 established trees. The soil being preoccupied, the vine will not have a fair 

 chance. Plant it at a distance from the tree to be covered, and after it has 

 made some growth it may be brought to the branches, where it will take care 

 of itself. On nearly every farm there are worthless trees that might be made 

 to carry bushels of grapes. 



A Grape Ballot. — Dr. Hexamer got the New Jersey Horticultural Society 

 to vote upon the best six varieties of grapes, two of each color, and here is 

 the result : 



Red. 



White. 



Black. 



Brighton 20 Pocklington 13 Concord 16 



Jefferson Y 



Delaware 6 



Wyoming Red... _. 3 



Duchess 12 Worden 14 



Lady Washington 5 Moore's Early 11 



Lady. 



4 Wilder 2 



Perkins 2 Niagara 3 



Vergennes 

 Catawba. . 



Salem 



Agawam . . 

 Diana 



Prentiss 2 



Martha 2 



Victoria 1 



Herbert 



Champion... 

 Early Victor. 

 Telegraph... 



1 

 1 

 1 



1 



Woodruff Grape. — C. A. Green thus comments on a Michigan seedling: 

 1 first saw the Woodruff at Ann Arbor in 1883. It is one of the most vig- 

 orous growers I ever saw, with a healthy foliage, and appeared to be 

 one of those varieties that will succeed anywhere without nursing. The 

 vine has much to commend the variety. I did not then have a fair 

 sample to test, but last fall a friend sent me a large basket of the Woodruff. 

 As I drew the large clusters from the package, I was struck with the beauti- 

 ful display, large, compact clusters, berries of mammoth size, and an attrac- 

 tive red color. This grape cannot rank high as regards quality. It has a 

 pleasant favor, but there is too much pulp to please the fastidious. But it 

 improves after picking, the pulp appearing partially to dissolve and become 

 more tender. It will prove a good keeper and will endure long shipment. I 

 think it will sell well in the markets. Our readers should give this grape a 

 trial. It has many strong points that will commend it to all. People at 

 Ann Arbor think it the grandest grape ever introduced. It is early, and a 

 seedling of Concord. 



Grape Bot. — Matthew Crawford of Ohio says that while professional grape 

 growers are searching for a remedy for grape rot, or some means of preventing 



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