CORRESPONDENCE. 103 



covering the vines about two-thirds up with dirt. 

 This operation may be performed at any time of the 

 year, Avhen the ground is not frozen^ if not too dry. 

 It is then necessary to keep them clear of grass and 

 weeds. 



"I have heretofore thought that grass would not 

 hurt them after the vines got well spread ; but I am 

 convinced by this year's experience that they cannot 

 be kept too clean. I have one acre that was set four 

 years ago. About three-quarters of the acre has been 

 covered with rushes, and is now ; while the other 

 quarter at one end of the lot has been kept clean. I 

 have the past week measured off one square rod of the 

 clean vines, and gathered two-and-a-half bushels of 

 berries from the rod, which is no more than an average 

 of the quarter acre, which will be testified to by the 

 gentleman who assisted me in picking them, as also by 

 several other gentlemen who have seen them since, as 

 the other berries yet remain on the vines. The other 

 three-quarters acre covered with grass, has been mostly 

 picked ; and although the vines are as large, I shall 

 not get twenty-five bushels of berries from the three- 

 quarters acre — the one yielding at the rate of four hun- 

 dred bushels per acre, the other about thirty, showing 

 the great advantage of keeping the vines clean. 



" My meadow would probably have yielded one hun- 

 dred barrels more this year, had it been kept clean. I 



