29G BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



formly give crops, aside from other difficulties. Tlie Hart- 

 ford Prolific is earlier than the Concord, and more sure to 

 ripen, but early grapes now do not bring the price they used 

 to ten years ago. The South furnishes us with early grapes 

 cheaper than we can raise them. The moment the Concord 

 is ripe, I cannot induce anyone to eat the Hartfords ; besides 

 that, they fall from the clusters very badly, so that it is ex- 

 ceedingly annoying to attempt to market them. 



About the time of pruning. I have something different to 

 say from most people about that. I am frequently asked^ 

 " When shall I prune my vines ? " I have said to-day, in re- 

 ply to one or two inquiries, "Prune them any time between 

 now and next June, whenever it is convenient." People open 

 their eyes in astonishment when I say that. They think they 

 must not prune them in spring, because they will bleed. 

 Well, we heard something yesterday about the bleeding of 

 maple-trees, that have been tapped for many years, and they 

 have not died yet. Now, it is no use to talk about such 

 things without some knowledge. It is one of the simplest 

 experiments to try in the world. Two years ago, I took 

 thirty-seven vines that had not been pruned at all. Com- 

 mencing the first of May, about the time that they began to 

 bleed, I pruned on,e vine a day until they were all thus treated. 

 At the close of my pruning, the new wood on the last vines 

 had made two and a half feet growth, long enough to be 

 pinched off and tied up. You see I have had a good test. I 

 wanted to ascertain the comparative difference, and I watched 

 them all through that season and the next, and I was unable 

 to appreciate the slightest possible difference in those thirty- 

 seven vines, from beginning to end. Is not that a conclusive 

 experiment ? I have pruned vines at all times. Theoretically, 

 I would prune them as soon as possible after the fall of the 

 leaf. In some very severe winters, such as we had two years 

 ago, I have no doubt that vines might be injured by too 

 much top being left on. The severe cold, together \vith an 

 extremely dry soil, would probably injure them ; on this ac- 

 coimt it would be better to cut them off in autumn. Aside 

 from that, I do not know any reason Avhy they should be 

 pruned at that time rather than in the spring. If you are in- 

 clined to be lazy, prune them in November, and then you 



