174 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



they make less wood and more fruit, where the soil is rather 

 poor. 



Mr. Bull. — A gentleman in Maine had some Concord vines 

 which he was accustomed to cover ; but being absent from home 

 tVo years, the vines were utterly neglected during his absence, 

 and thev were loaded with fruit. Down in Saco, where the 

 climate is severe, he thought they must be covered ; but when 

 they were let alone they did better. I must repeat, I do not 

 believe it is ever a benefit to cover the Concord vine. 



Mr. S. V. Stone, of Worcester. — I have raised a few grapes. 

 Most of my vines are Concords. My lot is 110 by 130 feet, with 

 buildings on it. I raised, last season, thirty bushels of grapes. 

 I have not covered them for the last three years. My experi- 

 ence is, that my vines have done better when not covered than 

 vhen covered. I trim them in the fall, and lay them down on 

 the ground without covering, and train them up in the spring, 

 and I have very good success. ■ 



Hon. J. M. Earle, of Worcester. — I believe, so far as my 

 observation goes, that people almost universally cultivate grapes 

 too highly, as they would the pear, so that the wood does not 

 ripen. I think that is the general rule here. In confirmation 

 of th"fe remarks of Mr. Bull, I would state that five or six years 

 ago, I left the place where I had been living, but still kept the 

 garden in my possession ; but it was neglected. I had there 

 two Diana grape-vines from which I had never succeeded, when 

 I did cultivate well, in getting any fruit. After I left, the vines 

 were entirely neglected ; they run up over the trees, and to my 

 surprise, I found them, two or three years since, bearing well, 

 with fruit that ripened perfectly. So it was for two or three 

 years in succession. The Diana grape, which is called a tender 

 grape, left to grow wild, succeeded well, although it had not, 

 when cultivated highly. The grapes were better than from 

 cultivated vines, dissolving entirely in the mouth, leaving no 

 pulp, and that without much pressure of the tongue, either. 



Dr. Miller, of Worcester. — Would Mr. Bull recommend 

 throwing on slops from the house, or watering the grapes 

 frequently ? 



Mr, Bull. — I have killed young vines in that way, when I did 

 not know any better. The soil is apt to become compacted, and 

 cause the loss of many young vines, by throwing soa|>suds and 



