‘STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 59 
pruning the vine will appear as shown by fig. one. Well developed buds are 
essential to produce large bunches. Summer pruning, or rather pinching, will 
secure these. The cane shown in fig. one will produce a shoot from each bud, 
upon which two or three clusters of grapes will set. Pinch off the end of each 
shoot two or three jomts beyond the last bunch of fruit; laterals will start, 
pinch these off after two leaves have formed, with the exception of one or two 
of topmost ones, these will act as a safety valxe and prevent the pushing of the 
next season's fruit buds; these shoots are to be tied to the ridge piece. To allow 
a large growth of shoots the most of the summer and then slash them off is all 
wrong, damaging both fruit and vine. Early pmching is beneficial to both; at 
the end of the season it will appear as shown in fig. two. This vine when 
pruned is represented by fig. three. The following season two shoots will grow 
from each of the spurs, which are to be treated the same as the previous year. 
In after pruning leave only one shoot on,each spur and cut this back to three buds 
again, when the vine will appear substantially the same as shown in fig. three. 
There are some varieties that do not readily yield to the treatment above de- 
scribed, yet these general principles will apply to all the varieties. The more 
rampant growing sorts may have a few more shoots tied to the ridge of the 
trellis. 
A little experience with different varieties will suggest how close to pinch du- 
ring the summer. Let beginners plant varieties that have been tested. Prune 
properly, lay down for winter and success will follow. For hardiness and early 
ripening the Janesville has no equal. The Delaware excels in quality. while the 
Worden and several of the Rogers grapes are well adapted to this latitude. J] 
am planting freely of Worden, Wilder, Massasoit, Merrimac, Delaware and 
Janesville, and sparingly of nearly all the new sorts. My vineyard will embrace 
nearly five acres when all planted. So my faith and works go together. 
DISCUSSION. 
In answer to a question Mr. Greenman said he never knew mice 
to gnaw grape vines. Mr. Day asked if sorgho bagasse would an- 
swer as winter covering for grape vines. Prof. Porter said that 
he had used bagasse as covering for a choice lot of vines. He had 
covered two feet deep. The vines were injured and the mice had 
eaten the vines badly. Mr. Harris related experience when alight 
covering of bagasse had been very beneficial. 
Mr. Smith said that for several years he had protected his vines 
with a light covering of strawy manure, with good results. He 
now practiced covering with earth. Always had bad success when 
the vines were left during winter without protection. 
Under discussion of the theme, The Botany of Minnesota and 
its relation to fruit culture, Mr. Harris presented the following list 
of trees found growing as natives in Houston county, believing 
that the botany of that portion of the country had much to do 
with successful fruit culture and that forest and fruit trees must 
walk hand in hand. 
