94 [Assembly 



The other half were vines two years old, from R. T, Underhill. The 

 cuttings are much the largest and finest vines, and bore the largest 

 crop of grapes. They have always been trimmed in February ; the 

 first season's growth was cut back to within two feet of the ground ; 

 the second year's growth was one half cut back, so that a small pro- 

 portion of wood only might be left to each vine compared to the size 

 of the root. The crop was about 1000 lbs. upon 22 vines. I used a 

 great quantity of strong ley made of oil soap to water with during the 

 dry weather of each season. 



Very respectfully, 



WM. A. SWAIN. 

 Port Richmond, S. J. 



NOYES ON THE CULTURE OF GRAPES. 



Stonington, Jan. 1st., 1846. 

 Sir : In answer to your circular, I send you a statement of my 

 method of cultivating the grape. 



Those which I exhibited were taken from vines five years old, al- 

 ways spur-pruned until the past season, when part were spur and part 

 cane-pruned. The soil dry and sandy, the roots placed outside the 

 glasshouse in a border twelve feet wide, well filled with bones, the 

 stem taken under ground into the house, and trained to rafters eight- 

 teen feet long. 



On the 1st of December, 1844, I pruned all my vines, 56 in num- 

 ber, which are in four apartments, half spur and half cane trimmed, 

 and after the closest examination I am not satisfied which is the best 

 way. I have, the past Dec, 1845, been governed by the appearance 

 of the vine, and cut accordingly. On the 15th of Dec, 1844, I laid 

 the vines in a trench, inside the house, and covered them with dirt four 

 inches deep, then opened the windows and doors and left them so until 

 March 15ih, when the vines were raised and washed, and on the 1st 

 of April placed under the rafters. When the grapes were as large as 

 peas, I commenced thinning out the old and new wood when it was 

 found too much had been left at ths previous pruning, and continued 

 to prune as often as once a week until the fruit was fit to gnlher, leav- 

 ing certain branches to use for the next year, and keep up a healthy 

 circulation of the sap. The border was manured from a hog-pcn, but 



