364 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



uot an imperfect bunch in the whole — that is, no loose bunches. The 

 Niagara is at the head of the list for profit. 



A. J. Warner commended the Niagara for fruitf uluess, compactness, and 

 profit. 



Mr. Phillips, replying to a question as to cultivation: I prefer the Kniffin 

 system. It is best to set the vines in October. Draw the earth up well about 

 them and mulch, pulling off the latter in spring. After growth of three 

 inches or so has been made, pull off all shoots but one, and train it to a stake; 

 when this is four or five feet high, nip off its tip, also removing all laterals; 

 cut back, for next year's growth, to three or four buds and repeat this pro- 

 cess for the third year, keeping off all laterals but one to run on lower wire. 

 The vines should be nine feet apart each way and the trellis have two wires, 

 the first two and one-fourth feet from the ground, the second the same distance 

 further up. Cut back the laterals to five buds — that is enough for the first 

 crop. In the fourth and succeeding years seven or eight buds may be left. 

 Don't let the vines run to wood — it saps the vitality of the roots. 



Mr. Phillips lately explained that after the above process had made so much 

 wood that the laterals met or passed one another on the trellises, the grower 

 should begin back again with some of the new branches that start each year. 



A. J. Warner: I cut back to four or five buds and get forty pounds per 

 vine. 



II. A. Sears: I have heard from Lawton complaints that the Niagara is 

 tender and must be laid down in winter. 



Mr. Phillips: I can not say that is untrue at Lawton; but it is certainly 

 untrue here and in. Ottawa county. 



M. T. Smith: I wish to make a plea for the Concord. It will yield as 

 many pounds per acre (I had eight tons last year) as any other; yet the 

 Niagara seems to be the more profitable and in demand. Take care of fruits, 

 grapes especially, and they will take care of you. Care should be taken in 

 setting. Trim the roots back to live wood — say to a foot in length. My 

 method is to train a cane to a stout stake, cutting off at the hight of about 

 five feet. By continuous cutting back the vines will stand like trees, as 

 mine do now that were planted in 1870. New wood is thrown out each year for 

 fruit, and this I cut back to three or four buds each year, occasionally going 

 back to some axillary bud when the branches become too long. Pinch back 

 all bearing vines to one leaf beyond the fruit, doing this just as the fruit is 

 setting. The remaining leaves grow very large and become sufficient for 

 development of the fruit. Delaware grapes do not pay. I grow them only 

 for myself, and let them run. They do not bear pruning. 



G. H. LaFleur: The Niagara is reasonably hardy. Where it does not 

 seem so, some other cause than the natural vitality of the vine will be found 

 to make the trouble. There is no question of its hardiness in this section, 

 under proper treatment. Wood ashes are the best manure for grapes. 



Clias. Mauwaring sketched the beginning of fruit growing around Allegan 

 and told how he went to Kansas to find a better fruit region, but found they 

 could there raise only Early Eichinond cherries and strawberries. He too 

 late discovered Michigan to be vastly preferable. Early tests were made here 

 with Delaware and Concord. They j)roved good then, but Niagara must dis- 

 place them for profit. Moore's Early he would plant only for private use. 

 Scarcely too much ashes can be applied to grapes, but barnyard manure tends 

 to produce too much wood. Five to ten shovels full of ashes may be given 

 each vine each year. 



