No. 108.J 49 



sun, and yet on the same vine, are of a more matured cast and have 

 a sweet, rich flavor; while those not sd much exposed, are green, and 

 the flavor sour. A southern or eastern exposure is best adapted to 

 the health of the vine generally. The severity of the winter does 

 but little or no harm to our native grapes. The changeable weather 

 in the spring of the year, is the time when the vine most suffers. 

 The frequent freezing and thawing does more to injure the vine than 

 severe steady cold weather. 



My mode of protecting vines, which I have introduced into this 

 country from France, such as the Fontainbleau, Rough Black, Black 

 Cluster, Napoleon, Constantine, Queen, White Sweet Water, &c.: 

 These varieties all require protection, with the exception of the Water 

 Grape, that being more hardy, and stands the changeable weather 

 best. The others I invariably protect in the following manner: — As 

 soon as the frost at the commencement of the fall shall have remo- 

 ved the leaves, I then trim or prune my vines very close, leaving on- 

 ly two or three buds for the next or following year. After this is 

 done, I lay the vine down, being careful to stake them with small 

 stakes, (the stakes being my sentinels.) I then cover them with 

 earth full six inches thick; this being done, my work with the vines 

 for the winter is over. In the spring, as soon as the weather be- 

 comes settled, and being satisfied of no more frost, I uncover the 

 vines, and throw over them some loose straw to protect the buds from 

 the heat of the sun, which would blast them, after coming from un- 

 der the earth, when they are considerably swollen and almost ready 

 to shoot forth. After the vine has become inured to the change, I 

 then pole them, and as they shoot forth, train them, being careful to 

 remove all suckers and to secure them from injury by wind, which is 

 apt to break the entire shoot if not tied; in this way I train. When 

 the vine is in blossom, I am careful not to touch them; and in fact, if 

 rain should set in at this critical time, more injury is done towards 

 blasting the fruit than any other season of the year. It cuts off the 

 farina which will be thrown off by the growth of the grape ; if knocked 

 off before, it injures and blasts the fruit. When the grape has grown 

 to the size of a common pea, I then commence my second training 

 and tying. I take a pair of small scissors and cut from the cluster 

 all the small grapes that would not come to perfection if left, but 

 rather in the way of those of quick and rapid growth, and if left 

 would not ripen, but if cut from the cluster, they leave room for the 

 large grapes to grow larger; and in this way I have fine clusters and 

 good grapes. If left wnthout this thinning out, my clusters are often 

 crowded and begin to rot before the grapes are ripe. 



I am not friendly to leaving too much fruit upon a young vine. I 

 believe it injurious to the vine in its future bearing. Some vines 

 show more fruit than the roots can supply with nutriment. In this 

 case, 1 invariably cut off full one-half, and thin out the remainder, 

 and have fine fruit and more in weight than if I had left the whole of 

 the clusters on. It has been said that where peaches grow perfect, 



[Senate No. 108.J 7 



