312 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



my nearest neighbor, which had received more attention, were perfect, 

 healthy and sweet. 



I have had so matfy questions aslced me in regard to spraying, also in 

 regard to woman's fitness for grape culture— or rather its fitness for 

 woman— that I scarcely know how to answer all in the brief time I 

 ought to occupy here, so I will simply say that I do most implicitly 

 believe that every garden patch and fruit grower ought to own a 

 sprayer. In my own little garden patch, it has more than earned its cost 

 this year." In the grapes it has proved its priceless value. I never saw 

 such heavy foliage as clothed my Delawares this year, or such luscious 

 fruit, and I know that any loss that I have incurred was due to not 

 using it often enough. I owe a magnificent crop of raspberries and a 

 heavy yield of apples to Its service, also, and I would say especially, let 

 every grape grower possess a sprayer before another season opens. 



There are other foes lurking about our vines than mildew or black rot, 

 four different species were found upon my own this summer, rose chaffer, 

 leaf roller, thrips or aphis and blue caterpillar; and we can not tell 

 which of all these will claim supremacy next season. 



As to the suitableness of the work for women, why not? Any woman of 

 average strength and average sense can do it. Do it all, except the post 

 planting and cultivating, and these she can hi re done for a small sum. It is 

 easy work, it is healthy work; it can not be otherwise with the purest of air 

 surrounding us all the time. It is fascinating work, because there is so 

 much to learn, not learn once for all, but like millinery, school teaching 

 or any other feminine employment that has advancement in it, some- 

 thing to learn each season, something that delights and elevates until 

 you forget or cease to care if your hands grow brown and rough or your 

 city friends know you only at your own home, or if your neighbors think 

 you queer because you can't keep out of the vineyard when it is apparent 

 there is enough for you to do in the house. 



It is elevating work; it lifts you into the book world, you find you can 

 not get along without them; and we older people have been crying out so 

 much for knowledge that our state has found it necessary to establish 

 schools for the purpose of fortifying itself against the question of the 

 next generation. 



It is profitable, financially. I will simply give you my amount of grapes 

 for this year, and you can estimate for yourselves at a reasonable market 

 price. From 900 Delaware vines, 6,372 pounds; from 1,100 Concerds and 200 

 mixed grapes, 1,300 vines, 9,456 pounds; total, 15,828 pounds. This only 

 includes those that were sold, not making any account of those con- 

 sumed by from eight to fifteen persons constantly about the house, num- 

 erous visitors, those put up for winter use and at least 100 baskets other- 

 wise disposed of. Besides grapes, planted in wide rows as mine are, you 

 have room for as many vegetables or small fruits as you can possibly care 

 for, on the same land; consequently, when winter comes on you have the 

 comfortable assurance of a well stocked cellar. 



And far more than all these considerations, the work brings one into 

 nearer relationship with Him who has said: "1 am the Vine, ye are, the 

 branches. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in 

 the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in Me," and so, although work 

 may crowd upon us, a loving, kindly feeling springs up that never could 

 be engendered, if miles of waving grain separated us from our neighbors. 



