60 HISTORY OF HORTTCULTrRE IN ML\NF/-OTA. 



T. M. Sniitli. I). A. liobortson and J. S. ShcaDiuin were appointed l)y the 

 chair 



On the motion of I). A. Robertson, thanks were tendered the Historical 

 Society for the use of their room, and an appropriation made of three dollars 

 to defray the expense of cleaning the same. 



The committee on grapes reported the follo\Ying varieties to be recom- 

 mended by the Society for general cultivation : Delaware, Iowa, Rogers' 

 Xos, 4, 15 and 19, Creveling. Northern Muscadine, Concord and Hartford 

 Prolific for general purposes : Oporto and Clinton for wine. 



The Society then adjourned. 



A. W. Latham, Secretary. 



APPENDIX A.— GRAPE CULTURE. 



1. Soil, Situation and Expense. 



The best site for a vineyard is the south side of a hill, and near the top. where the vines 

 will get the full benefit of the «an and air, and where they will be fully protected from cold 

 and chilling north winds. The soil must be warm, dry. deep, and thoroughly worked from 

 the depth of eighteen inches to two and a half feet, the deeper the bettei'. and both surface 

 and under-drained if possible, in order to get the best results. 



2. Planting and the Kinds of Plants. 



I prefer and would recommend good extra two year old plants grown in open air from good 

 long cuttings, or well rooted layers, but in any event, plant only the very best plants, even 

 if you pay extra prices therefor, and shorten in all long and straggling roots, and cut the cane 

 back to two buds or eyes, and in planting dig your holes deeper than necessary to put the 

 roots straight down, and when you have partly filled in with fine, soft, pulverized earth, 

 draw your vine up to straighten the roots down, so that the top bud or eye will be on a level 

 with the ground, and fill in carefully up about the vine, placing a stick on the north side of 

 the vine to tie the young growth to as the vines grow, and when the vine gets well started, 

 see which bud starts the strongest and rub ofi' the weakest one, and carefully tie up the 

 young growth to the stake as necessary. Vines should be planted at least eight feet apart 

 each way, and some low growing crop might be grown between the rows for the first two 

 years, such as strawberries kept in hills or rows with runners clipped ; and in Fall after the 

 frost has killed the tops and leaves, the vines should be cut back to two buds or eyes, and 

 carefully covered with fermented manure 



3. CulticuMon. 



The ground must be carefully clean from all weeds, and kept loose and mellow the whole 

 Reason, or every season I should say, for when the vines come into fruit, it is absolutely 

 necessary they should have all the sun and air they can get, and by being kept perfectly clean 

 from grass and weeds and other crops, and the ground loose and mellow, it will absorb heat 

 during the day and give it oti' during the night, and thus when we have cold nights often 

 avoid a frost or check in growth of fruit and foliage, what is so much needed in this northern 

 latitude. 



4. Time of 2:)lanting. 



I prefer spring planting, from the first to the middle of May. 



5. Variety to plant. 



Delaware, Iowa, Creveling. Early Northern Muscadine, Hartford Prolific and Concord, and 



