370 ANNUAL REPORT 



obliged to contend with an unfavorable climate and a great va- 

 riety of soil, he should call to his aid all the advantages which 

 science and the experience of others can give. Plants are living 

 things. He should know something of the structure, methods- 

 of growth, their constituents, so as to select their food. He should 

 know something of their relationship to the climate and soil in 

 which they received their birth and development, that he may 

 still preserve their vigor and productiveness. He must know 

 the structure and formation of their productive organs so as to 

 make the most desirable crosses and hybrids and secure the 

 most perfect fertility and development of fruit. 



Munson says: " When we consider that here, in the United 

 States alone, there are some fifteen different species of grapes 

 with different adaptabilities and properties with innumerable 

 varieties of earth, that all the species are polygamous and are 

 capable of intermingling, thus making hybrids, and that we must 

 at least use several of these species conjointly to secure greater 

 excellency in quality, and make rapid progress, it is at once ap- 

 parent how important is a knowledge of grape botany at least 

 to the successful vinegrower and still more to the originator." 



But more than all else he must be a clear sighted practical 

 specialist in horticulture and love for its own sake the labor in 

 which he is engaged; with these requirements his success is as- 

 sured, for most all fruit, grain and vegetables reach their highest 

 perfection near the northern limit of their growth, and this limit 

 is far north of the latitude of Central Minnesotaas the abundance 

 of its wild species (vitis riparia) on our river bottoms even in 

 Manitoba will testify. 



Prof. Budd says there are no wild grapes in Eussia north of 

 the shores of the Black sea; yet he has seen raisins from the east 

 for sale at the Eussian fairs as good as any from Spain. 



Mr. Harris says, ''good grapes can be successfully grown in 

 many portions of Minnesota by all who select a suitable location 

 and soil, plant the right varieties and give suitable attention to 

 the preparation of the soil, planting and management." 



LOCATION. 



In selecting a location for a vineyard bear in mind the fact 

 that once well established it will remain productive for a life 

 time; choose high ground on the shores of a lake or river, if pos- 

 sible with a moderate slope to the south or southeast, where air 

 and drainage will assist to protect against the late frosts of spring 



