KEEPING OF GRAPES. 299 



should be kept in a cool temperature. They should be kept 

 so dry that they will not mould, and they should be kept so 

 damp that they will not shrivel. I can keep them in perfec- 

 tion up to about the first of November. The quicker I get 

 them o£F my hands after that time the better I feel. That ap- 

 plies, of course, to the Concord. There are other grapes 

 that will keep in perfection, but there is no object in keeping 

 the grape much beyond its season. You can keep it some 

 little time, but if you attempt to keep it much beyond its . 

 natural maturity, it loses all its distinctive qualities ; it is no 

 longer what it was. 



Mr. Hyde. What do your grapes bring? 



Dr. Fisher. That is a personal matter. They bring a 

 price that satisfies me. They bring a price probably fifty per 

 cent, higher than those of any other grower that I know of, 

 except some few men who adopt this system of growing. 



Mr. KiLBURN. You say we are on the northerly limit of 

 grape-culture. Might not the formula be changed to this, 

 that our grapes are too late for this latitude ? 



Dr. Fisher. Mine are not. They are just right. 



Mr. KiLBURX. It was said, some few years ago, that we 

 were lacking in an early potato, but that want is supplied by 

 the Early Rose, and instead of depreciating, it is better this 

 year than ever before. New strawberries and new grapes are 

 being thrown into the market every successive year. Now, 

 the time may come when we shall have an early, prolific and 

 good eating grape that will grow in Quebec. Mr. Bull, who 

 originated the Concord grape, says that the man who gets up 

 an early, prolific and good eating grape, will make his for- 

 tune ; which is as much as to say it has not been produced yet. 



Question. Do you practice root-pruning at the time of 

 planting ? 



Dr. Fisher. Yes, sir. If the roots are longer than eight 

 or ten inches, I prune them to that length. I want them to 

 start new roots near home. 



Question. Do you have any preference in buying vines 

 from root-cuttings or layers ? 



Dr. Fisher.. The best vines are from layers, because they 

 make a very strong system of roots in one season. There is 

 no other advantage. They are worth more money,, because 

 you get more roots the first season. 



