306 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Chairman. I have grown considerable many grapes, 

 but I grow mine in an entirely different way from that which 

 the Doctor has practised. Mine is a more sloppy way, so to 

 speak, but I am inclined to think there is more money in it. 

 That is, I think the ordinary farmer, who does not profess to 

 have mnch skill in growing grapes, might grow them in the 

 way that I grow them, and find it profitable; whereas, he 

 would be likely to fail with Dr. Fisher's, perhaps more scien- 

 tific, but somewhat more difllcult method. 



I grow grapes precisely as hops are groAvn, and with just as 

 little trouble. I grow them in different locations also. I 

 have them with rows running north-east and south-west. 

 I have them with rows running in different directions. I have 

 them on a south-easterly slope and a westerly slope, a north- 

 westerly slope, a north-easterly slope, and a northerly slope ; 

 and this year I had my best grapes on a north-easterly slope. 

 Those vines are on the side of a hill, protected by a high 

 spruce hedge that I put around my pear-orchard. I put my 

 posts nearer than Dr. Fisher does, and I am inclined to think 

 they are a little too near, — six feet each way over the entire 

 vineyard. I think I would put them six by seven, possibly 

 six by eight, for I find in the summer, when the vines have 

 made their laterals, it is a little difficult to pass through ; but 

 the worst of it is, the vines shade the ground a little too 

 much. 



In regard to the selection of vines, I should not differ with 

 the Doctor much, except that I prefer a cutting to a layer, 

 any time. I prefer one-year-old vines, unless the two-year- 

 olds have been treated as he has described. I plant my vines 

 shallow, at a less depth even than he plants, — from two to 

 two and a half inches deep. They take care of themselves. 

 I have found grape-roots running ten or twelve feet right 

 along under the surface. I cut back my vine, as a rule, un- 

 til it is strong enough to make all the wood I want. Then I 

 begin to train spirally, just like a corkscrew. I tie it up 

 with tarred rope-yarn, which is strong, and holds it for a year 

 or two. I may possibly tie it twice, but usually only once. 

 If my vine is strong, it makes laterals all the way up. I cut 

 them back to one or two eyes, never leaving over two, gener- 

 ally not more than one. I always trim it early in the autumn, 



