84 



wood that desired to grow, and, as sometimes is the case, (he 

 vine will start out with a heavy crop and every prospect of sii - 

 cess, till the grape gets about its full size when it remains and 

 hangs upon the vines until the leaves are all off, and never comes 

 to anything at all. I know of no remedy unless it be to thin or 

 reduce the crop one-half, or even more, and this we are loth to 

 do, for if done at all it must be done in June or July when we 

 are not sure but the conditions will be favorable for a full crop. 



You ask what kinds I recommend. 1 hardly know what to 

 say for I have had failures some years of all the varieties, still I 

 would not part with any of them. I am quite sure the Concord 

 will perfect its fruit more years in ten than any other variety 

 now known. 



I am also well satisfied that a high, dry, sandy soil, or a soil 

 full of cobble-stones is the most desirable for the grape. Such 

 a soil Mr. Gage of Methuen has, which enabled him to show a 

 number of kinds of ripe fruit at the New England Show at Man- 

 chester. N. H. upon the first of September. I have to-day many 

 bushels of grapes of full size hanging upon the vines, trying to 

 'color, which will be worthless. I think had my soil been sim- 

 ilar to the above I should have had half as much wood, half as 

 full crop which I think would have matured and been gone two 

 weeks ago and been of the first quality. 



My seedling I hope much from, it is a sure bearer, perfectly 

 hardy and early enough to avoid frosts. My large Concord 

 grapes were obtained by selecting the most vigorous canes early 

 in the spring, allowing only one bunch of blooms to remain on 

 each, and constantly heading in as fast as wood was inclined to 

 make. 



I am fully aware you will say I have not answered your ques- 

 tions, or given you any information at all, but I think this mat- 

 ter of grapes is something one must learn by experience, for it 



