STATE HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 87 



tliis one cut to three buds again, and will appear substantially as shown by figure 

 three, only that a portion of tlie old wood of the spur will remain, and will be length- 

 •ened a few inches each year. When your vine consists of more than one cone, each 

 one is to be treated in the same way. When these spurs get so long as to be incon- 

 venient, tram a cone from near the base and proceed as with figure one. All suck- 

 ■ers f^hould be kept off, and not allowed to grow except for a renewal cone. 



Mr. Gould thinks that though methods of pruning might differ, the 

 results would be about the same. He would leave one spur of six buds 

 on the leading shoot, and prune all other spurs back to one bud. 



Mr. Greenman said he found the earliest grapes nearest the ground; 

 the largest ones on the new wood of the second year's spurs. Said 

 further, that the farmer or any one else who plants grapes must not 

 expect a crop unless the vines are pruned of their superabundance of 

 wood. 



Mr. Harris said he would buy two year old vines with strong roots. 

 He illustrated his system of pruning, which differed but little from Mr. 

 fGreenman's, except that he practiced the renewal system. 



Mr. Greenman objected to the renewal system, on strong growing 

 varieties, because the canes got too large for the number of buds. Mr. 

 Harris thought the renewal system the best for farmers on account of 

 its simplicity. 



Mr. Emery said, as a matter of interest, that $800 had been realized 

 from a single acre of grapes. 



TULIPS. 



BY ANNA B. UNDERWOOD. 



Minnesota is a grand good State to live in, in spite of tlie extremely cold weather, that is so trj'ing 

 ■to the comfort and good nature of its inhabitants ; and even these trying periods may be pleasantly 

 passed, if ample provision has been made for warmth both in and out of doors. But this wintry 

 weather does not last forever, not over six months of the year, and the balance of the year is so full o 

 delights and pleasures, that compensation in full i s received for tlie dreary period of waiting. Rich and 

 varied as the spring and summer months are when left wholly to Dame Nature's care, still with a lit- 

 tle assistance rendered at suitable times, and as needed, she will repay a thousand-fold. The spring 

 months are particularly full of enjoyment, beginning with the earliest days, when the tiny blades of 

 grass begin to show themselves, and the buds on trees and shrubs having heard the welcome news that 

 it is time for them to awaken, and to woi'k, begin to open, gladdening the eyes that have tired so of the 

 .cold and dreariness of winter. And what a brief space of time it is until our blufls, prairies and valleys 

 are reveling under a beautiful covering of soft green — and trees and bushes so lovelj' in their fresh new 

 .outfit. The contemplation of these beauties is quite satisfying for awhile and then the eye craves more 

 colorina, and the woods and tields are invaded in pursuit of the earliest spring blossoms, that have the 

 strength and hardihood to come forth from their snug retreat before the frosty days are fairly gone. 

 But oftentimes the woods and tields are too far away for many to avail themselves of tliis glorious treat 

 of hunting and finding the early wood tlowers. An effort must be made to secure these and similar 

 pleasures nearer home, and the flower garden is selected as the scene oi earnest endeavors to gratify thlB 

 love of variety. Some of the wild beauties can be transferred to the garden and do well, while others 

 are quite impatient over the change and languish and die — and even those that do thrive always look 

 out of place in the garden. It is better to have a little neglected natural corner of the lawn, and then 



