26 ANNUAL REPORT. 
connection with a few grape vines. The trees and vines set out 
when I commenced on my place were bought at a nursery in Quincy, 
Illinois, by a brother who lived at that place. I have raised some 
apples, but have not been so successful as with grapes. Like many 
of the early settlers near the timber adjoining the Mississippi I com- 
menced to live in a log cabin, after selecting a claim, which I bought 
second-hand. 
The two Isabellas brought from Illinois by my brother were plant~ 
ed in April, 1853. In 1856 I built a new house and the next spring 
the vines were carefully taken up and set out on the south side of 
the building. This was in fact their second removal after planting, 
as I had occasion to build an addition to my shanty from whence 
they were taken and set out in the fence corners in 1854, 
The first winter they were killed down to the ground, when I con- 
cluded the vines would need protection in this cold climate. While 
in the fence corner, I began to cover the vines a little and found 
they did better. 
Soon after being planted by the new house they began to bear 
fruit, and have produced more or less from that day to this. Of 
course they have been well protected in the autumn, which has al- 
ways been done with earth. Sometimes I have put a little manure 
over the covering of earth, but do not deem it necessary—except 
perhaps in the case of small vines of the more tender varieties. 
Soon after the Isabellas were planted by the new house I set out two 
more vines, one the Oid Clinton, and the other what was said to be 
the Catawba, but was not true to name. 
From my old vines I propagated a number of young ones which 
were set out by a high fence. I kept on propagating until I had 
growing about thirty vines of the four sorts first obtained. 
I was so well pleased with my success with grapes that I conclud- 
ed to plant more kinds and start a vineyard. My first Concords and 
Delawares were obtained of Mr. Ford, who had often urged me to 
go into the business, as the climate seemed so well adapted to the 
cultivation and ripening of this excellent fruit. I was pretty care- 
ful, however, and would not go ahead faster than I had proper expe- 
rience, with the various kinds and their treatment. 
Some time after, I got a few Northern Muscadines, Oportos,. Del- 
awares, and some others of Mr. Smith. From time to time I pur- 
chased of others, and a great number of varieties. 
In starting my vineyard I prepared ihe ground with the plow, then 
followed with the spade throwing out the soil until it was worked up 
about sixteen inches deep. I next built a tight board fence from 
eight to ten feet high, on all sides except the south. This was done 
because I had not a good site for the vineyard business, it being al- 
most level, or sloping a little to the southwest. It is also at the 
foot rather of quite a hill. Hence it is not so free from frost as on 
the top of a hill. 
MY FIRST SHOW AT THE FAIRS. 
In 1860 I took my first grapes to the State Fair, which was held 
at Fort Snelling. The kinds exhibited were the Isabella and a dark 
