REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GARDENS. 349 



be grown six feet in length and then ripened for wood to fruit the 

 next j-ear. By this method I have from ten to twelve feet of old 

 wood and I intend to carr^' one pound of fruit for every foot of 

 old wood. 



The young shoots must be pinched when they attain the length 

 wanted ; with me it is from seven to eight leaves, and when the 

 shoot strengthens enough it is tied as already said to the wire 

 above. Then as the laterals start they are kept pinched in to one 

 leaf ; this sends the sap into the first leaves that started and 

 increases their size ; and this is what is wanted, as it is the first 

 large leaves that I mainly rely on to ripen my crop. 



I use the Acme harrow and hand-hoe enough to keep the weeds 

 down ; requiring more time some years than others. The exact 

 cost per acre I cannot give, as it is qarried on in connection with 

 my other work ; but as nearly as I can estimate the cost of 

 growing an acre of grapes with me is not far from $190. Then 

 there is quite an expense for repairs of posts, wires, baskets, 

 etc., etc., which cannot be less than $50 a year. 



Last year fertilizers were applied to part of the vineyard. 

 This year there has been nothing of any kind applied. 



Respectfully submitted by 



G. B. ANDREWS. 



Pearl Hill Farm. 



Statement of Arthur J. Bigelow. 



Marlboro', August 9, 1886. 

 John G. Barker, Chairman of the Committee on Gardens, Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society : — 

 Dear Sir : 



In compliance with your request for the manner of cultivating 

 my vineyard, I offer the following : 



The vineyard occupies about an acre and a half of land having 

 a- southerly exposure, with an inclination of about fifteen degrees. 

 The soil is loam with a great number of cobble stones, and a hard, 

 gravell3' subsoil. It stands drought remarkably well. The ground 

 slopes so much that in some places planks set on edge and sup- 

 ported by stakes are used to prevent too much washing of the soil. 



