STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 24T 



BLACKBERRIES AGAIN. 



Col. Stevens. There was once an abundance of wild blackber- 

 ries in Carver county. What is the cause of their disappearance? 

 Will Mr. Ludluff or Mr. Peterson answer? 



Mr. Ludluff. We have thetn yet in the fence corners, inside of 

 the fields. They are destroyed by stock on the ranges elsewhere. 



Mr. Peterson. Another cause of their disappearance is the want 

 of shelter, since the underbrush has been removed. 



GRAPES RESUMED. 



Mr. Bussee. I think we ought to take more time to discuss 

 grapes and strawberries. 



Mr. Plumb. Before we can decide intelligently as to 

 what varieties of grapes to plant we must study their 

 special adaptations. Varieties subject to mildew will only grow 

 adjacent to bodies of water. We ought to have committees of 

 observation on these points of adaptation. Away from bodies of 

 water, plant Concord first, because least subject to mildew; then 

 Worden, and next, Delaware. The cause of mildew was the 

 shock to a tender leaf system by a warm day followed by a cold 

 night. The Concord has a thick, leathery leaf that resists the 

 influence of these sudden changes of temperature. Mr. Plumb 

 was not in favor of mulching grapes. The ground must be kept 

 hot for the best growth and ripening of the grape. 



Mr. Pearce. As to the ripening, it makes a great difference how 

 the rows are arranged. If the rows ran east and west the grape 

 will ripen two weeks earlier than when they run north and south. 

 He plants his vines on the south side, one foot from the trellis. 

 This he considers best, after twenty years' experience. 



President Smith got his best and earliest grapes from east and 

 west rows. 



Mr. Pearce. Charles Gibson, at Lake Minnetonka, has the 

 finest grapes I ever saw. His vineyard is in a narrow clearing in 

 the Minnetonka woods, on a hillside facing west. At first the 

 ground was not rich enough. I advised him to save his forest 

 leaves, make a compost of them and dress his vineyard. That 

 doubled the size of his grapes, and they all ripened. He had Dela- 



