Vineyard Culture on ike South Shore of Lake Erie. 255 



and are willing to wait a few years for the reward of their labor. The meetings 

 and exhibitions of the association have been quite spirited and instructive. 

 They have also had very pleasant summer excursions among the islands, and 

 points of interest, inspecting vineyards and discussing summer-pruning, &c. 

 These have been participated in by many visitors of horticultural distinction, 

 who have expressed much gratification. 



The annual meeting of the association was held at Cleveland, Feb. 21 and 22, 

 1S67; and, although the past season was quite unfavorable for the grape-crops, 

 the attendance was large, and the confidence expressed in the business was as 

 great as ever. It was determined to repeat the summer excursion, the coming 

 season, on a grander scale than before ; chartering a large steamboat, if possi- 

 ble, for the occasion, so as to accommodate the families or friends of the mem- 

 bers, two or three hundred in all, with hotel conveniences on board for four or 

 five days ; starting, perhaps, from Dunkirk or Erie, and stopping at Cleveland, 

 Sandusk)-, and any other points desirable ; then inspecting the grape-islands, 

 and having a grand picnic in the beautiful grove at Put-in-Bay ; and afterwards 

 taking a pleasure trip to Detroit, and back to Sandusky or Cleveland, as the 

 company may desire. 



President. — Dr. J. W. Dunham, Collamer, O. Vice-President. — Capt. John 

 Brown, jun., Put-in-Bay. Secretary. — M. B. Bateham, Painesville, O. Treas- 

 urer. — Rev. R. H. Leonard, Cleveland. 



Directors. — L. D. Griswold, Elyria ; S. B. Marshall, Cleveland ; J. E. Mot- 

 tier, North East, Penn. ; J.H.Tryon,\Villoughby; G. E. Ryckman, Brocton, N.Y.; 

 M. H. Lewis, Sandusky; Addison Kelley, Kelley's Island. 



The ditching-machine recently patented by Moon & Doan of Wilmington, O., 

 was exhibited by a working model in the hall, and excited much interest, and 

 a general expression in its favor. The patentees will soon be prepared to intro- 

 duce the machine in the Lake-shore region, where it is expected to prove of 

 much advantage to grape-planters. 



Discussion was had on a variety of topics designated at a former meeting. 

 The first was, " Soils, and their Preparation for Vineyards." Quite a variety of 

 opinions was expressed on the question, Wliat kind of soil is tJie best for grapes ? 

 most of the speakers being influenced by their own individual experience. Some 

 were in favor of stiff clay, others clayey loam, and some gravelly and sandy loam, 

 and a few had done well on real sandy soil ; but the majority expressed a de- 

 cided preference for clayey or strong soils over sandy or light ones, though 

 gravelly and shaly soils, if not too sandy, were not objectionable. It had been 

 found that the Catawba grape, especially, produced finer fruit and ripened better 

 on clay than other soils. 



Thorough drainage of clayey soils, and others too if not based on porous 

 subsoil, was deemed quite essential. Neglect of this had been the cause of 

 much loss to beginners the past season. 



Enriching the soil has not been found advantageous to vineyards in this 

 region ; but Dr. Spalding of Missouri said it was practised in that State with 

 advantage after the vines have been in bearing for twelve or fifteen years, repeat- 



