256 Vineyard Culture on the South Sliore of Lake Erie. 



ing the manuring every three or four years. Dr. Kirtland thinks -our clay soils 

 contain sufficient potash to keep up their fertlHty ; but sandy soils may require 

 an occasional dressing of ashes or plaster. 



Trenching the soil by hand, as formerly practised, is not now deemed neces- 

 sary, but simply deep ploughing, followed with the subsoil plough, mellowing 

 the whole to the depth of eighteen or twenty inches. 



Depth of planting wzs a point considerably discussed, as heavy losses of 

 young vines had occurred the previous winter, owing to shallow planting. Set- 

 ting the crown of the roots from six to eight inches below the surface was the 

 rule urged by the majority. 



The style of plants preferred by most present was "No. i, single eye," as 

 grown by Messrs. Griffith, Dr. Grant, and others ; but these should have the 

 stem left on, of sufficient length for the upper bud to be even with the surface 

 of the ground when planted. 



Pruning and training were discussed at much length, especially summer 

 pruning. This was advocated and explained lucidly by Dr. J. A. Warder ; but 

 some doubted the propriety of the practice, except in a very modified and 

 limited way. 



Stakes and trellises had each their advocates ; but the preponderance of 

 opinion was in favor of the post-and-wire trellis as generally used on the islands, 

 consisting of three wires of " No. 9 " size, supported by strong posts about 

 twenty-four feet apart. Dr. Dunham, Mr. Griffith, and several others, thought 

 simple stakes cheaper and as good. 



Quality of grape-must for wine was the subject of much interesting dis- 

 cussion, together with a report of tests of a variety of samples of grapes the 

 past fall by a committee appointed for the purpose. This will have to be the 

 text for a subsequent article in this Journal. 



On the differe7it varieties of grapes very little was said directly, as the sub- 

 ject had been so fully discussed at the meeting in October and previously : but, 

 in connection with the report on nmst, it was claimed that grapes of the highest 

 excellence for the table will be found to have the highest grade of must by the 

 scale ; and for making good wine, as well as for eating, it was indispensable that 

 grapes should h^ fully ripe. The samples of Catawba grapes tested \v\\tn fully 

 ripe (in November) gave must ranging from ninety-three to ninety-nine degrees, 

 and Delawares (in October) about the same. In regard to the mtist of the lona, 

 Mr. Griffith and Dr. Grant stated that they had tested it repeatedly by the scale, 

 and found its weight (in October) from ninety-three to ninety-four. Some tes- 

 timony was given respecting the must of Concord and Ives grapes which was 

 not deemed very flattering to their reputation for wine-making. 



The tariff on imported wines was considered, and a memorial to Congress 

 adopted, asking for an increase of duty, suggesting a uniform rate of one dollar 

 per gallon. M. B. Bateham. 



Painesville, O. 



