STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 265 



the cross-trellis and allowing a free circulation on the upright posts 

 so that the fruit as it comes to maturity will have ample access to all 

 the air and sunlight that can be had. 



The wires are so arranged that they can be drawn off the trellis in 

 the following manner: The wires run the full length through augur 

 holes in the tops of the posts. The}' are coupled in lengths of one 

 rod each; by unhooking the coupling they can easily be drawn out, 

 allowing the vines to drop to the ground where they are then covered 

 with straw and earth as they lie on the ground between the rows; the 

 snow collects on the straw and they winter perfectly. 



When the vines get too large to handle easily I lay them on the 

 ground and cover them for a new root; thus layering them, the result 

 is a strong rapid growth of new wood. In trimming I never allow 

 any old or stubborn wood to remain; but manage to have young 

 sprouts coming on all the time, and when the old vines are not needed 

 for layering I cut them off in the fall, always retaining enough wood 

 to fully cover the trellis; in fact I make the root carry about all the 

 wood I can get that is young, sound and thrifty, merely cutting back 

 the terminal limbs and thinning them out. 



I have this year on a single hill grown 216 pounds of grapes by 

 actual weight. And I am confident that this vine will in the coming 

 season produce 500 pounds of grapes. 



I am also growing two varieties of California grapes, also the Janes- 

 ville, the Prentiss and the Brighton, and all are doing well under the 

 method above described. 



Early frosts last spring caught fully one-third of the crop after the 

 grapes had set, but with my plan as above explained the vines were 

 up to the sun and moisture and the direct result was a second crop of 

 bloom in ample time to ripen; all of which I attribute to the high, 

 shallow, surface culture. 



The following paper was then read by Mr. Latham : 



GRAPE GROWING AT MINNETONKA. 



By A. W. Latham, Excelsior. 



To the fruit grower who has interested himself in this direction, the 

 culture of the vine in this vigorous climate has been for many years 

 an assured and certain success. But it is only of late that this is 

 becoming generally known, and an interest awakened in this direc- 

 tion. 



