72 



sought after for their own information and the information of 

 hundreds, aye, thousands who read the Annual report of the So- 

 ciety's doings, many of whom arc unable to attend the Exhibi- 

 tion. 



Feeling such a lack of information on a subject which deeply 

 interests a great many, and finding myself, much to my surprise 

 from my imperfect knowledge of the subject, Chairman of this 

 Committee, I felt that this year, at least, the Committee ought 

 to take a new departure from the old rut, and therefore, to do it, 

 called upon the principal exhibitors to put their shoulders to the 

 wheels and help them out by answering the following questions : 

 How were your vines started, by single eye, cuttings or layers ? 

 how old are they ? how old were th :y when planted ? what was 

 the soil ? how enriched since and when ? what exposure have 

 your vines ? how trained ? how trimmed and when ? do your 

 grapes ripen well every year ? how many vines have you 

 and the kinds ? what kinds do you recommend as best adapt- 

 ed for Essex County soil, freest of disease and surest of ripen- 

 ing? 



How many peach trees have you and the kinds ? how old are 

 they? how old when set out for bearing? what was your soil ? 

 how and when enriched since ? how trimmed ? what kinds do 

 you recommend for cultivation in Essex County for eating ? for 

 preserving ? 



Have your grape vines or peach trees had any disease, if so 

 what have you done for it and the effect ? Give any other infor- 

 mation relating to grapes or peaches and their culture that you 

 think might benefit our Society. 



The response has been such that it has taken us clean out of 

 the old rut with a good push ahead, and will be found in the 

 shape of statements appended to this report, which to myself 

 have proved interesting and instructixe, and I feel assured will 



