126 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



amount of sales, $loO, we liave an income of S134, which taken 

 as a hasis of valuation would warrant us, as we think, in esti- 

 mating the present value of our vineyard at $1,000. 



We would offer the following suggestions to those ahout 

 planting vineyards. Obtain strong, healthy vines from responsi- 

 ble parties. Choose a warm and well drained soil, where there 

 is a good circulation of air, which will tend to prevent mildew. 

 The soil need not be rich ; our vines have had no manure ex- 

 cept what was applied to other crops between the rows. Set 

 the posts when you set the vines to prevent subsequent injury 

 to the roots ; the trellises may he completed at any time after- 

 wards. Be satisfied with moderate crops the first two or three 



years of bearing. 



T. & J. Barnes. 



FRUITS. 



MIDDLESEX. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Grapes. — The last summer, as you are aware, was remarkal)le 

 for dryness, for the brightness of the sun, and long continued 

 heat,^ust the conditions for maturing the grape to the highest 

 degree of excellence, provided the vines were properly cared 

 for, which leads us to state what we regard as suitable care 

 under such circumstances. In the first place, hawcver, it may 

 not be amiss to say that, owing to the conditions alluded to, 

 grapes rii)encd over a large extent of territory at nearly the 

 same time, and the variation in the time for the different 

 varieties maturing, was not so marked as in ordinary seasons ; 

 hence the difficulty of judging as to comparative merits of many 

 of the new sorts on the point of early maturity. Tlie quality 

 of each has not been surpassed by itself in any previous year 

 within our recollection. 



Now then, to the care and want of care to which we alluded, 

 and which has been clearly oljservable ; on soils similar in 

 character, indeed, the difference is so slight as not to be dis- 

 cernable, except in the mode of treatment. 



Dry as the season was, those who gave clean cultivation to 

 their vines, eradicating all noxious weeds (all weeds are such) 



