STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 343 



owing, apparently, to the extensive settlement of new and non- 

 apple growing regions. 



' ' Concord grapes are at present more extensively planted than 

 any or even all othei-s; bnt Delaware is by some regarded as 

 nenrly or quite as profitable. For an early grape, Moore's is ac- 

 qniring a high reputation; also a few early plantations of the 

 Niagara are now in bearing, with indications that it may prove 

 higlily desirable as a market variety. Mildew of both foliage 

 and fruit has, in some seasons proved troublesome, and the same 

 is true of the premature rotting of the fruit. The minimum 

 price at which grapes can be grown with any profit is about one 

 and one-half cents pei' pound. Plants are trained both to stakes 

 and trellises, some preferring the one, and some the other; but 

 the usual mode of pruning is best characterized as no system — to 

 leave an amount of bearing wood, depending upon the judgment 

 of the pruner at the moment. The quality of the product, and 

 perhaps even its quantity might, no doubt, be decidedly im- 

 proved by the adoption of an improved process in this respect. 

 The soil is usually cultivated by a shallow plowing in the spring, 

 after which the cultivator or harrow only is used. The soil is not 

 usually disturbed after an early date in August, as thus the young 

 wood is found to mature more perfectly. Pruning is usually 

 done in November, or from that time to March. 



"Strawberries are usually grown here in matted rows, but the 

 production of finer fruit under a more efficient system is believed 

 to be decidedly more profitable. Red raspberries are believed 

 to be more profitable in this vicinity, owing to our milder winter 

 temperature, and their consequent exemption from injury at 

 that season. Still, blackcaps are extensively grown and highly 

 profitable. Blackberries are very extensively grown, and rarely 

 fail to produce a full crop; but since the crop is diminished by 

 even a slight injury to the tips of the canes, it is found safer to 

 plant the more hardy varieties." 



Prof. Satterlee of the State Agricultural College says: 



" Apple orchards are uniformly most successful on good strong 

 upland that had originally a good sprinkling of oak timber. 

 Some orchards have been set upon a dark colored, loamy soil, 

 underlaid within a few feet of the surface with a wet quicksand. 

 On such soil the trees have grown rapidly for a few years, but 

 have killed badly in severe winter, and the trees that still sur- 



