GRAPES. 113 
are too sour.” It thus lowers the price and injures the reputation, 
and those that pick their grapes in the proper season are the princi- 
ple sufferers. 
Now, as to giving an accurate statement of the profits on my vines» 
I can’t give it, for my time and my help’s time is engaged at other 
work a good part of the season; but according to my best judgment 
I think I make four hundred dollars above actual expenses, besides 
getting paid for time in a healthy and wholesome occupation. 
Grapes, I think, have been very cheap for the last few years, and 
whether they are ever going to be higher is a question yet to be 
solved, but don’t believe they will ever be lower. 
At your honorable body’s talks and discussions at your regular 
meetings on the various fruits for Minnesota, I see that apples get 
the lion’s share of attention, and,as a consequence, being very much 
attached to the grape, feel jealous, as the latter is one of our finest 
looking as well as tasting fruits, and considered by good authority 
as one of the very healthiest and capable of sustaining life alone. 
And not only that, but some varieties are good keepers, as I have 
here on exhibition, the eighth of January, grapes that will keep six 
weeks after this, if necessary, and in good repair; and they were 
kept in my cellar, too, but the cellar is dry and cool. Grapes 
can be kept in loose, open boxes or the bunches put in small paper 
sacks, which cost only seventy-five cents to a dollar per thousand. 
To be sure, not all varieties are good keepers, but the Iona and 
Duchess and some of the other kinds, Rogers, etc., are good keepers: 
Now, I have been eating grapes of my own raising for nearly five 
months, and it is so every year—no failures like there are in apples, 
for I have not missed a crop yet by failure, while you are continually 
running up a stump (apple tree stump killed by frost.) The fact of 
it is, gentlemen of the apple tree persuasion, I should advise you to 
come to us grape growers for points on winter protection; for my 
part, I came to the conclusion several years ago while listening to 
your discussions, that a good way to treat your trees would be to 
put a strap hinge, well screwed on, just at the base of the tree, and 
then saw it off just where the strap’s hing is, and your tree will lop 
to the ground and up again with very little exertion—like a barn 
door opens and shuts, for instance; then cover with marsh hay or 
straw—either will do—but don’t fail to put a little strychnine mixed 
in with corn meal under the hay or straw to kill the mice and per- 
manently injure the tree. As I have not had long experience in this 
mode of treatment, it might be wise to begin on some tree that has 
borne its last crop. 
Thinking I may be wandering from my text,and your valuable 
time short, I will close my advice on apples, that you will have more 
time to devote to its discussion. . 
DISCUSSION. 
Mr. Phillips: How would that apple tree do for a trellis for 
your grapes after you had turned it down? 
Mr. Crane: It would do very well, I think. I had not thought 
of that. Thank you. (Laughter.) 
