106 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



believe to be tbe case. All your committee are grape-growers, 

 and we grow tbem somewbat extensively, and we bave found 

 tbem to be more profitable tban otber fruit. Tbe cultivation 

 is not costly or difficult, nor do tbey by any means require so 

 mucb manure as otber fruit crops, and tbe cultivator lias the 

 alternative of making liis crop into wine, in case of a dull 

 market, an alternative wbicb be does not have with other 

 fruits. 



We subjoin the statement of Mr. Hunt, of Concord, in this 

 connection, made to tbe Committee on Grapes at tbe Fair of the 

 Middlesex Agricultural Society, held at Concord, on tbe 18th 

 of September last. He says : — 



" The Concord grapes exhibited by me to-day are from vines of five 

 years' growth. My vineyard is located on the south side of what is 

 known as Punkatasset Hill. The soil is warm, moderately strong but 

 not rich, with a hard, retentive subsoil. A large portion of the soil now 

 planted with grapes yielded little else than stone, whortleberry bushes 

 and briars, with some small pitch pines. After removing these, I 

 applied, at the rate of forty horse-cart loads per acre, a compost of barn- 

 yard manure and swamp muck, and planted potatoes. The next spring 

 I applied the same quantity of manure, and planted the vines, in rows, 

 running east and west, eight feet apart, seven feet apart in the rows. 

 No fertilizing substance has been used since except wood ashes, at the 

 rate of fifteen bushels the acre, up to the last year, and this year none." 



After relating bis method of pruning, which is on the spur 

 system, be proceeds to say : — 



" As to any information in regard to the profit, or the successful culti- 

 vation of the grape, I have had but little experience, therefore I will 

 not attempt to instruct, but briefly relate some of my experience. 



" I commenced with one dozen vines, but have now some five hun- 

 dred, beside one thousand young vines in the nursery rows. Two- 

 hundred of the former are now loaded with fruit, estimated by good 

 judges to yield at the rate of eight thousand pounds per acre. Last 

 year the first crop was taken from these vines, about two hundred 

 pounds, and sold for twelve and one-half cents per pound at wholesale, 

 at retail for twenty-five. 



" In conclusion, I would state that I have not attempted to produce 

 grapes of extra size for exhibition, by ringing, extra fertilizing, or any 

 other means not strictly applicable to the whole crop. 



" Signed, Thomas F. Hunt. ' 



"Concord, Sept. 18, 18G2." 



