50 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



E. W. "Wood doubted whether marketmen would agree with Dr. 

 Fisher in regard to the quality of the Coucord grape. He gets- 

 his fruit perfectly ripe. As a rule marketmen prefer the Worden 

 grape. Girdling, it is claimed, extends the season two or three 

 weeks, by forcing the ripening process in advance of the usual 

 date. Another advantage gained is that the berries are larger, 

 while chemical analysis shows that the quality is equally good. 

 There is some question as to whether the grapes of finer quality — 

 like the best Rogers Hybrids — may not be ripened earlier, and 

 also gain other advantages, by the girdling process, especially by 

 amateur growers, who in many cases have smaller areas and 

 better protected grounds. 



Dr. Fisher said that during a term of three years he made some 

 extended experiments in girdling grape vines. In some cases he 

 girdled one of two fruiting arms. On some vines he girdled both 

 arms. He found that on the average, the grapes on a girdled arm 

 ripened ten days earlier than usual, but the grapes on the other 

 arm ripened later than usual, therefore he lost on the latter about 

 half as much as he gained on the girdled portion. When 

 both principal arms were girdled, whatever grapes were growing 

 upon other and smaller shoots failed to ripen at all. In two or 

 three years' experience, he found that those vines which were sub- 

 jected to girdling failed to make as good a growth or to ripen their 

 wood as well, and therefore set less fruit, which proved poorer. 

 In fact they required two years to recover from the effects of 

 girdling, and in three years' time he concluded he had gathered 

 less fruit on the whole. Rains falling on nearly ripened girdled 

 grapes caused many of the berries to split open. Moore's Early 

 sets a very light crop ; and this, and Worden, and the girdled 

 Concord, are all very liable to split open if rain comes at their 

 ripening season. He was certain that they did not pay him. 

 They might prove a success with others under different circum- 

 stances. 



Mr. Wood knew of a vineyard at Concord where the girdling 

 system has been practised eleven years, and no difference in the 

 vigor of the vines has been noticeable ; they were heavily loaded 

 with large fruit, which last year ripened at the beginning of 

 Septemljer. The owner would feel like going out of the business 

 if he could not girdle and gain the advantage thereby secured. 

 Mr. Wood had met with similar expressions of opinion at 

 Worcestei', nnd in various other sections of the State. 



