36 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the State, and nowhere else perhaps in the United States is this excellent 

 climatic adaptation to miscellaneous fruit production so apparent as in the nar- 

 row strip of territory upon the east shore of Lake Michigan. And yet it must 

 be conceded that withal our superior advantages as a State, and our acknowl- 

 edged preeminence as a locality, in the certain production of annual crops of 

 such large, luscious and fine-flavored peaches, as cannot be grown elsewhere, 

 not to speak of the great variety of other semi-tropical fruit ; we have few 

 results beyond other less favored localities to commend us to the favorable 

 consideration of the outside world in relation to grape growing as a remunera- 

 tive industry. It is to be hoped, however, that the stimulus which is being held 

 out to propagators in the promise of large gains, will in the near future, deter- 

 mine the vexed question of improvement in varieties and adaptation in other 

 respects to our entire satisfaction. And that the great peninsula of Michigan, 

 especially those portions which by reason of their proximity to the lake and the 

 markets of the great northwest, possess advantages of a peculiar character, are 

 yet destined to be dotted with beautiful vineyards, the delicious and health- 

 inspiring products of which shall create for themselves and us a name and 

 place in the estimation of consumers second only, if not equal, to the vaunted 

 products of the plantations of California. 



While climatic influences have undoubtedly much to do with the successes 

 and failures on record, the influence of soil is also very marked in its effect 

 not only upon the health, but the productiveness awd quality of the grape, and 

 I have little doubt that to an imperfect conception of this fact, may be fairly 

 attributed very many of the failures to grow the finer and less hardy varieties 

 even in this specially favored section. 



It is a common mistake to suppose that those soils abounding in vegetable 

 mold and other rich fertilizing materials, because they produce a rank, lux- 

 uriant growth of wood and foliage, are best suited to the wants of the vine, and 

 such selections are usually made because such conditions seem to promise the 

 earliest return in remunerative crops of fruit. But this is not in accordance 

 with the facts. Such soils, as is well known, are found only on the lower levels 

 of the general surface, and which are composed chiefly of peat, and as a rule 

 contain few if any of the elements requisite to the health and hardiness of even 

 the more perfectly hardy varieties, and should therefore be avoided. 



But high and dry situations, sunny slopes and hillsides, from which the sur- 

 face mold has been washed or blown away, those especially which contain 

 lime and other mineral substances, and are exposed to the fullest measure of 

 sunshine and atmospheric circulation at all times, such will produce a less 

 rank and rampant growth of vine, but it will be found that both wood and 

 fruit will there mature when it will not elsewhere, and better still that the 

 quality of the fruit will be vastly superior, will meet with a ready demand and 

 quick sale, when Uiat from the lower lands will, if it matures at all, be inferior 

 and be difficult to dispose of. 



But another most serious obstacle to maintaining a healthy and productive 

 vineyard is not uufrequently to be observed when all other conditions are as 

 perfect as could be desired, and that is improper or untimely cultivation. 

 By plowing, severing, or even disturbing the young and tender fibrous rootlets 

 at a time immediately preceding or during the period when the vineyard is fra- 

 grant with the odor of its unfolding blossoms, is to insure a large percentage of 

 loss by depriving the vine of needful nourishment, withering and blasting the 

 embryo berries, and thus producing what are usually termed "scraggly" or 

 imperfect bunches. And again, at a later stage of development, by cultivating 



