318 APPENDIX L 



vine, notwithstanding the hail storm on the 4tii of July destroyed at least 

 1.000 pounds. 



" My grapes last season commenced making their first turn on the 1st 

 day of September, and the entire crop was ripe before the 30th. This 

 season they commenced turning red on the 20th of August, and at this 

 time (September 7th) more than 1,000 pounds are making the second 

 turn. In fact, I have seen Isabella grapes offered for sale in Rochester, in 

 the month of October, not as ripe as these are. 



" I will not say positively that my fruit is equal in flavor to that pro- 

 duced by more seemly fertilizing materials, for that would hardly seem 

 possible ; but I will send you a sample of it as soon as I consider it ripe, 

 that you may have an opportunity to judge for yourself. One thing I 

 have remarked in regard to these vines; no insects of any sort have dis- 

 turbed them, except that three or four of the vines, the year they were 

 planted, were dug out by dogs in their nocturnal attempts at a premature 

 resurrection of those dead carcasses ! Mildew has never affected them, 

 although, from their remarkable luxuriance of growth, I have expected to 

 encounter much trouble from this most patience-trying scourge of the 

 vineyard. 



" I have adopted the plan this season of mulching my vines with spent 

 tan. I applied it early in July, having kept the vines thoroughly culti- 

 vated previously ; I shall cover the entire vineyard with it next season 

 about one inch deep. I have alwaj^s ploughed between the rows to the 

 depth of five or six inches, to within a foot of the vines. To enable me 

 to do this without disturbing the roots, I have practised pruning off all the 

 lateral surface roots, to the depth of five or six inches, thus throwing the 

 vines, to use a familiar phrase, upon their ' taps.' To this practice, I 

 believe, ought to be attributed anj' exemption from mildew, far more 

 than to any or all things else. I observed this same practice prevailed 

 in Dr. Underhill's vineyards at Croton Point, though I am not aware that 

 the doctor has ever given the fact to the public. If he has not, of course 

 it is because he forgot to do so ; or he may have thought it would not be 

 of much interest to the other cultivators of the grape. One fact is wor- 

 thy of note : Dr. Underbill has experienced no difficulty from mildew for 

 quite a number of years past, and his vines are very old ; whereas when 

 his vines were young, he says he was much troubled with its presence. 

 Now, all who know anything about grape culture, well know that old 

 vines, with ordinary culture, are far more subject to this difficulty than 

 yoimg ones. To my mind, this proves that the doctor is older than he 

 once was, as well as his vines, and that he has not grown old to no pur- 

 pose. 



"In conclusion of this already too long article let me say: if you do 

 not like the samples of grapes sent, suppress this account of their origin 



