PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 259 



an exception rather than the rule. Mr. Pardee speaks of the pro- 

 ductiveness of apples in- Southern Illinois. That is true, but they 

 won't keep over winter. 



Mr. George Bartlett. — It is generally understood that it requires 

 the thermometer eighteen degrees below zero to kill peaches in 

 the New England States. Mr. Pullen, of New Jersey, says that 

 eijrht degrees below zero will kill them there. If the nio-ht is 



or? O 



still those upon hills are most likely to escape injury. Hale's 

 Early is the hardiest. 



Clematis froii Seed. 



Mrs. M. Ingals, Muscatine, Iowa : I am very fond of fruits 

 and flowers, the latter especially, and want to know enough about 

 them to direct their cultivation. Will the seed of clematis germi- 

 nate without bottom heat ? I have tried various ways but all failed. 



The Secretary said he had grown the seed of clematis the present 

 season in open ground. Another member said that there were 

 several varieties, some hardy, others not. 



Grafting Grape-vines. 



Mr. B. Phillips, Unionsville, Iowa, writes: " In the early spring of 

 1865 I grafted some cuttings from Concord vines into roots, of 

 what is here called fox grape-vines. The most of them grew and 

 flourished well, forming stout, healthy canes from twelve to fifteen 

 feet long the first 3'ear. This, the second year, I pinched them 

 back, in June and July, but find the length of cane from each to 

 be sixty-five to eighty-three feet. We call this a remarkal^le 

 growth. But what I wish more particularly to present for con- 

 sideration of the club is that the fruit (for three of them produced 

 fruit this year) is dissimilar to both slip and root, and has degene- 

 rated. To the eye the berry is the Concord ; but the bunch 

 materially differs from one produced fjom root or graft, the fruit 

 being very sour. All three bearing vines contained precisely the 

 same fruit. Now I wish to know if grafting grape-vines has 

 universally the same result ? If not, why in these instances ? On 

 this subject I am totally ' dumbfounded,' and hope for light from 

 the club.' 



Mr. B. G. Pardee. — The change noticed in the character of the 

 grapes is not owing to the effect of the stock upon the graft. It 

 is the stimulating and excessive growth of the vine which always 

 deteriorates the quality of the Concord grape. 



