PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 149 



to prune it so that it may be able to ripen the crop. The vine 

 always produces five times as many buds, unless they are destroyed 

 by the winter, or in some other way, as can be properly ripened. 

 Unless four-fifths of the fruit is taken off early in the season, the 

 grapes may make vinegar, but cannot make wine. The priining 

 should be commenced before they blossom, and continued until 

 the vines have all been pruned. Grapes ripen best high up, 

 where they can have plenty of sun, and at the same time plenty 

 of foliage. If we take off the foliage to let in the sunlight the 

 vines cannot breathe, and the fruit will be sour, for the sugar 

 will not be perfected. The proper way to eat grapes is to swal- 

 low the pulp without breaking it, rejecting the skin unless it is 

 desired for its astringent qualities. 



Mr. Carpenter. — A medical man at Brooklyn said that the seeds 

 were very unhealthy, and should never be eaten. I am very glad 

 to hear this statement to the contrary, for it appears to me, then, 

 to be incorrect. 



The Chairman corroborated the statement that it is necessary 

 to take off a large proportion of the fruit in order that the re- 

 mainder may be properly ripened. 



SAMBUCUS WINE. 



Mr. Robinson read a statement with regard to the Sambucus 

 or elderberry wine, recently advertised in this city, as being the 

 product of a new species of the elder brought from Portugal. 



Mr. Fuller. — It is all a humbug. I will state that in advance. 

 Mr. Spear has gathered up all the elderberries in that neighbor- 

 hood, 



Mr. Robinson. — That is just why I introduced it here. That 

 whole region has been scoured to gather elderberries to make 

 this Sambucus wine. 



NITROGENIZED SUPERPHOSPHATE OF LIME. 



The Chairman corroborated the statement of Prof. Mapes at 

 the last meeting, respecting beets raised by him. Celery and 

 mushmelons, also, that he had manured with the nitrogenized 

 superphosphate of lime, furnished him by Prof. Mapes, had done 

 well, while others had completely failed. Upon examining the 

 ground in the morning he had observed moisture where this 

 manure was applied, and entire dryness where it was not. It 

 had been applied freely, but not at such a rate as to make it 

 unsuitable as an economical manures 



