224 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



I am firmly convinced that the same laws, to this extent, govern grape 

 vines. If this be a true theory, men have no excuse for not giving this 

 protection. It talces but little time to cover all the vines that are ordi- 

 narily found on one man's premises. My man and I do this worli in 

 one day on 150 vines. The manner of giving this protection is very 

 simple and inexpensive. It is done as follows, to wit: 



I go to a brush pile and secure forl^ed branches, which I prepare like 

 the one I hold in my hand, lay two vines towards each other and drive 

 this forlied stick in the gi-ound over them. This holds them to the ground. 

 Then I cover with any covering I may conveniently secure, such as straw, 

 corn stalks, tomato or potato vines or forest leaves. The last named I 

 consider the best for the reasons that they are always at hand and when 

 decayed make a leaf mold around the vines which make a fertilizer more 

 congenial than any other, being nature's own fertilizer. 



In the spring so soon as danger from freezing is passed, I remove the 

 covering, tie my vines to the wires and spray with Bordeaux mixture 

 about the time the buds begin to swell, not later. A second spraying is 

 given just after the bloom drops off, and a third just before the fruit 

 begins to ripen. If I want very fine grapes for table or exhibition I sack 

 the largest bunches, using two-pound sacks which are purchased at 

 eighty cents per 1,000. Grapes thus sacked are safe from the depreda- 

 tions of bees, birds or fungus. 



In regard to varieties, I can only say that there are so many and so 

 many different tastes that I feel a timidity in making any suggestions, 

 but will venture just a few: I am very frequently asked this question: 

 "If you had to be restricted to any one variety, what would it be?" My 

 answer noAv is Johnson's Seedling. Formerly my answer was Brighton, 

 evidently the parent of the former, which only excels its parent in hardi- 

 ness. There is only one other of the newer grapes that I deem worthy 

 of special mention, and that is the Brilliant, one of Munson's Seedling 

 and the most promising new grape I know of. 



A Member: Mr. Johnson, what three would j^ou recommend for 

 market? 



Mr. Johnson: Brighton, Concord and Niagara. 



VARIETIES OF GRAPES FOR NORTHERN INDIANA. 



BY C. P. BRADLEY, SOUTH BEND. 



While we are able to grow many varieties of grapes in the north part 

 of the State, there are a great number of varieties that are better adapted 

 to the south part. Varieties that do the best and are the most profitable 

 in the north part of the State are as follows: Black— Worden, Concord, 



