118 MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURE. 



over the trellis ; in pruning I cut out a large portion of the old 

 wood every year and lay in new canes in its place. From these 

 vines there were gathered one hundred boxes, of forty or more 

 pounds each, or two tons of grapes, which were sold in Boston 

 as soon as gathered, at from twelve to thirteen cents a pound, 

 in bushel boxes, without any particular packing. 



I regard the grape as more certain to produce a crop than any 

 other fruit we grow. During the last ten years there have been 

 only two seasons in which the crop has not matured very well 

 under good cultivation, and those (1867 and 1868) were only 

 partial failures. Even in 1868, I averaged as high prices as the 

 present year, although the fruit was not nearly as good in quality. 

 Can that be said of any other fruit ? It does not require much, 

 if any manure, which is so much needed for the other crops on 

 the farm ; and to be a success it only requires ordinary skill in 

 selecting the soil, and planting good, strong, healthy vines, of 

 some well-tried variety, like the Concord, which is the only kind 

 I have found profitable. I have about exhausted the nursery- 

 men's catalogues, and have been disappointed with many new 

 kinds, coming highly recommended and costing high prices. 



A wire trellis, with good posts, well set, and three strands of 

 the best galvanized wire. No. 13, costs about $3.50 for one hun- 

 dred feet in length ; the same length, with stakes, would cost 

 according to the size of the stakes ; if they cost three cents 

 each, with setting, it would be fl.l2 for one hundred feet ; if 

 seven cents each, for very large ones, $2.24 for one hundred 

 feet ; it requires much more time and labor to prune, tie, and 

 take care of vines on a trellis than on stakes. Which will pro- 

 duce the most, or best fruit in the end, is the question to be 

 solved. I have only tried a trellis five years ; so far, one is as 

 good as the other, as far as cropping is concerned, with, as I have 

 said before, a great difference in favor of the stakes in the 

 amount of tying, pruning, and care. 



I have also entered my peach orchard, of three hundred trees, 

 which is on the same sort of soil, and adjoining the lot contain- 

 ing the grape-vines, /or exhibition only ; these trees have been 

 set two years next spring, and have grown entirely to my satis- 

 faction ; if they only escape the disease called the yellows, I 

 feel confident of getting fruit. I have entered them for exhibi- 

 tion only, thinking that no orchard should receive a premium 



