STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 87 



branch is girdled so as to leave one or more buds between the part 

 girdled and the vine. After the fruit is otf, the branch is cut off at 

 the point where it is girdled. By this operation the fruit matures 

 earlier by two or three weeks, and is as good or even better. The 

 market is better and in some of the later varieties it saves them from 

 the frost. 



The same method of pruning and training in my judgment will 

 give Maine people good grapes in most seasons. But of course the 

 season is shorter in Maine and only the earlier varieties can be 

 grown with success. Moore's Early is one of the best for Maine. 

 The Worden is the next. The Ha^-es, a small, light colored table 

 grape, delicious to the palate, is also very good and deserves a place. 

 The Niagara is another very good grape. The Green Mountain and 

 Hartford Prolific are also good varieties for Maine. 



Concord is the home of several popular varieties of grapes, among 

 which are the Concord and Moore's Early. There may be found 

 growing wild near by our farm grapes of excellent quality. Nurs- 

 erymen from all parts of the county send to Concord growers for the 

 Wood of Moore's Early, as well as for several other varieties. This 

 wood in many cases pays a good profit. It is nothing more than the 

 vines cut off in the autumn. One of our neighbors has sold his 

 wood for more than $100 in a single season. This wood is used for 

 cuttings by the nurserymen, from which new vines are propagated. 



Mr. Gilbert. This matter of grape growing in Maine is a 

 hazardous business and unprofitable. Only those favorably located 

 can grow them successfully, and then only the earliest varieties are 

 at all certain of ripening. 



Pres. Pope. Many people are deceived by the highly colored 

 plates shown by the tree agents and buy varieties that are worthless 

 for Maine. It is better to find out from some Maine fruit growers 

 the varieties that are known to do well in the State and then order 

 direct of the nurserymen. The buyer in this way will be sure of the 

 best varieties and quite sure to obtain what he orders. 



