368 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



PRUNING THE GRAPE. 



HAVE been in the habit of pruning and covering up all 

 kinds alike in the fall of the year ; and usually leave two 

 buds of each rod on the arm. But I have noticed that 

 in some, particularly the white variety, many of the stubs 

 die, while the vine lives and grows strongly the next 

 season. But not growing, as stated, in many instances 

 from the stubs of the previous season, or for some other 

 reason, bear very little fruit. 1 refer more particularly to Rebecca, Moore's, 

 Diamond and Eldorado. Even the Duchess, with all her grace, shows sen- 

 sitiveness to pruning. With regard to fruiting I do not speak of this season's 

 results merely, as the severe frosts of May almost wholly destroyed all kinds of 

 fruit in this vicinity. 



In this connection I may state for reflection the experience of a friend of 

 mine who found no time last fall to pay any attention to his vines, but left them 

 entire on the trellises all winter, and did not expect any good from them this 

 summer ; but is gratified now to find his vines better fruited than they have 

 been for years past. One explanation may be, that the vines having been so 

 chilled and dried up by the frosts of winter, they were slow coming to in the 

 spring, and so escaped the damaging effect of the May frosts which did so much 

 damage all around. 



Ottawa, i8gs- M. McKinnon. 



The experience of our correspondent in not pruning his vines in the autumn 

 before laying them down, would seem to indicate that the vines are rendered 

 somewhat more sensitive to frost from the late fall pruning. Probably better 

 results would be obtained byless pruning in the autumn, leaving longer fruit spurs 

 and more fruit buds, and, if necessary, cutting a little closer after the frosts of 

 winter are over. 



NOVELTIES. 



A New Black Seedling" Grape originating with Mr. M. A. Read, of 

 Port Dalhousie, Ont., was awarded the first premium at the Industrial Fair, 

 Toronto, this season, as best seedling grape. Its season of ripening, which is said 

 to be about that of the Champion, at once claims attention. According to the 

 originator, the vine is a vigorous grower, with heavy foliage similar to Concord, 

 very heavy, and very productive. The bunch is large, well shouldered, very 

 compact ; and the berry of fair size, firm, black, and of good flavor. A basket 

 of these grapes has been sent us to verify this description. The grape promises 

 to be a profitable, early black grape. 



