STATE HORTICULTURA.L SOCIETY. 133 



the original types and refer to the different forms to their proper alliances, only 

 by carefully studying a large number of forms from all parts of the country, and 

 after all this, we can only recognize the Labrusca and Reparia families of the grape 

 as the only source from whence we get our valuable grapes. I have no faith in grapes 

 of any other parentage, other than Labrusca and Reparia; although the Delaware 

 is supposed to be a cross between Labrusca and Unifery. The Delaware has a poor 

 leaf for the prairie States, but can be grown quite successfully in some locations in 

 the Northwest by fertilizing and giving good cultivation, with winter protection. 



The cultivation of this delicious fruit is too much neglected in the Northwest. 

 I hope soon to see a new era in grape growing on the great prairies of the North- 

 west, and the best way for us to help bring that about is to quit buying such 

 varieties as are usually grown East in hot houses from single buds, and forced to 

 grow five or six feet in the space of two months, the Prentiss, August Giant and 

 a host of that class of grapes, too numerous to mention. We should recommend 

 and plant largely of Worden, Lady, Cottage, Moore's Early and Janesville — and 

 plant for trial the Empire State. This is in my judgment the most promising new 

 white grape before the public; it is a seedling of Hartford Prolific, fertilized with 

 Clinton; thus you can readily see that it is a representative of both these valuable 

 families of the grape; it is a vigorous grower with broad thick leaves very much 

 like that of the Clinton; while the wood resembles the wood of the Hartford, it is 

 early. I have seen it when about as early as Moore's Early, and the fruit is of high 

 quality. I have great faith in grapes from this source. The Niagara grape, I am 

 free to confess, is a surprise in many of the Eastern States, but I am afraid those 

 that plant largely of it in the west will be surprised in the opposite direction from 

 those of Western New York. 1 recommend pruning, and laying down vines in the 

 fall as soon as the wood is thoroughly matured. The Delaware can be improved by 

 grafting it to such roots as Concord and Ive's Seedling. I grafted last spring 

 75,000 Delaware cuts t)n Ive's Seedling roots with a good degree of success. The 

 process is like that of the apple root grafts. I cut the Ives root in sections two 

 inches long, and splice graft. The Delaware, cut seven or eight inches long and lap 

 with a waxed tiiread same as with the apple root graft. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mr. Smith. To those not acquainted with Mr. Wilson, I would 

 say that he has probably been as successful a grape grower as any- 

 body in the country. He is })resident of the Iowa State Horticultur- 

 -al Society, and he has made a grand success of grape culture down 

 there in Iowa. 



Mr. Harris. I like the list he has recommended very well. It is 

 probably just such a list as can be safely planted by most of the 

 people in the West. We discarded the Janesville, I think, at our 

 last meeting; but I thought at the time, and still think, that we 

 ought to give the Janesville a prominent place in the list of grapes 

 for common cultivation by farmers. It is sure to produce a good 



