280 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
On the southeast side of my walk I planted one vine about 1871, and 
first tied it to a pole, but as it spread and increased in size and number of 
canes, the idea occurred to me to convert it into an arbor. I built a trel- 
lis about eight feet wide, twenty feet long, and seven feet high, then laid 
down several canes, covering them slightly with earth, and as the sprouts 
appeared, I trained up such as I desired to use, at proper intervals, cut- 
ting off those between. In this way, I have succeeded in securing a most 
grateful shade, so thickly covered with foliage, that no inconvenience is 
ever experienced from the brightest sunshine. The top of my trellis is 
constructed of cross strips at intervals of six and one-half feet, and these 
again intersected by strips running lengthwise about one foot apart. 
When the vine isin full fruitage, the clusters hang below the trellis where 
they are fully exposed to the light and air, and except in case of extremely 
early frosts, seldom fail to ripen. I am convinced, also, that having the 
protection of the foliage above the fruit, affords considerable protection 
from frost. It also facilitates gathering, and enables the picker, also, to 
select the ripest fruit, leaving the bunches on the vines that are not ma- 
tured to ripen fully. The vine has produced over 300 pounds of grapes in 
one season. . 
GRAPES. 
DANIEL BUCK, MANKATO. 
I write this article at the request of your secretary; it is not prepared 
for the professional grape grower, but for the farmer, laborer, or busi- 
ness man who has not a great deal of time to spare, but who can raise 
plenty of grapes for his own household, if he will give the subject a 
little time and attention. A man need not understand Latin and Greek, 
nor spend months in studying the technical terms and phrases used by 
some of the writers on grape growing, in order to have a good supply of 
this healthy and enjoyable luxury. I have been engaged in raising grapes 
for twenty-five years, without any instructor to teach me, and following a 
few simple rules have raised each year heavy crops of grapes. I have over 
thirty varieties, but never sold a grape or vine, and have none for sale. 
My garden is on the second bench seventy-five feet above the Minnesota 
River, facing northwest, with soil very rich and formerly covered with a 
heavy growth of timber. Grapes do well along our valleys and river bluffs, 
and especially around our lakes and in the timbered lands. Iam not pre- 
pared to say just how well they will do on our prairie soil, but do not see 
why they should not succeed there, if the soil is well drained and thor- 
oughly cultivated. Standing water in a clayey soil is death to the grape 
vine, for grape vines are like people, they suffer from wet feet. 
PLANTING. 
The ground should be thoroughly plowed or spaded, and worked deeply 
aS it can be conveniently. Dig holes twelve or fifteen inches deep and 
have the holes large enough so that the roots can be spread out nicely 
without cramping. Fill in three or four inches with fine earth, upon 
which place the roots,and then fill in with very fine earth among the roots, 
and press this earth down so that it will be firm. The roots should 
that 4 
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