SIXTH MEETING, MAECH 4th, P. M, 

 Vice-President Hadwen in the chair. 



Subject : Orchard and Vineyard Fruits. 



The sul)ject was introduced by Dr. Jabez Fisher, of Fitchburg, 

 wlio reinai'ked that the theme was too extensive for one after- 

 noon, and he felt obh'ged to contine liiniself to some one of its 

 branches. He suggested that as his name was synonymous with 

 Grapes, if the audience desired, he woukl talk of the cultivation 

 of that fruit. 



In choosing a location for a vineyard, he would select One as 

 far north as ])ossible where he could succeed, as insuring the best 

 results, but would not go furtlier than his present location. Yow 

 must choose a gentle southern slope, tending a little to the east, 

 to get the advantage of a tropical sun, which the grape loves, the 

 hotter the better in this region. The soil should be lighter the 

 further north you go, but you cannot get the best results from 

 a light soil. Any ordinar}^ preparation is good enough, cultiva- 

 tion a year or two previous not being required, and highly culti- 

 vated land being avoided, as it gives too much wood growth, while 

 a proper balance of all the powers of the vine is necessary. If the 

 ground is in sward, plough ; not deei)ly, however, as deep plough- 

 ing tempts the roots to run out of the influence of the sun. Plough 

 just enough to kill out the sward. The best vines are those 

 not over a year old. Properly treated two-year-old vines are a 

 little better than those one year old, but not enough better to pay 

 for the trouble, and those just ready to bear are wortli little more 

 than brush, and not wortii saving, unless to preserve a variety. 

 Planting is a simple matter, and 600 vines can be set with one 

 helper in an afternoon. Shorten in the vines to six or eiglit inches 

 of root in a system like a cart-wheel, scoop out the soil four or five 

 inches deep, set the plant in. and tread on the soil to compact it, 

 taking care to have the soil friable in the beginning, to bring the 

 mellow soil against the roots. The first year the vineyard can be 

 used for growing anything else. Set the plants six feet apart, 

 in rows eight feet apart, although this may be altered to suit the soil, 

 the rule beino- the one he follows. Have the trellises run north and 



