FRUITS AND FLOWERS. 315 



of the vine. You will have alternate spurs for fruiting, and 

 the intervening spurs cut back to one eye, to make bearing wood 

 for the next season, when the spurs which have borne this year 

 are to be cut back to one eye, to make new spurs for alternate 

 bearings. A modification of spur pruning, practiced by some 

 grape growers, is to cut back the spur to the strongest bud, 

 without regard to the length of the spur ; rubbing out the 

 shoots from the other eyes, except the one at the base of the 

 spur, which is trained for the new wood of the next season, the 

 old spur being cut clean out, at the fall pruning. Well estab- 

 lished vines, spur pruned, generally ripen their crops a few days 

 earlier than vines pruned on the renewal system. 



The best time of pruning for this latitude is probably the early 

 part of November. If the vine is pruned at that time, the 

 organizable matter which the roots continue to take up until 

 hard frost prevails, changes the wood and the buds, making 

 them to start with more vigor in the succeeding spring, and 

 perhaps increasing, to some extent, the size of the bunch. It 

 is safe, however, to prune at any time after the fall of the leaf 

 until the succeeding spring, avoiding to prune when the wood 

 is frozen, or so late in the spring that the vine will bleed, which 

 would be likely to happen at the beginning of April. 



WORCESTER NORTH. 



From the Report of the Committee. 



Fruit Trees.* — In the planting of an orchard it is very impor- 

 tant that a correct judgment should be exercised in the selection 

 of the spot for its location. For it is not a temporary location, 

 to be easily changed if we find we have made a foolish blunder, 

 but is one for life, and has much to do with success in the mat- 

 ter. It should be shielded as much as possible from the west 

 and north winds. The south-east slope of a hill may be consid- 

 ered a favorable position, and a deep loamy soil the best. 



Second, the soil in which the trees are planted should be kept 



* The following Report and statements were received too late to appear in 

 their appropriate place under the head of Orchards. They are given here on 

 account of the value and importance of their suggestions. 



