34 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



nothing of the lona and Adirondac, as yet but imperfectly known, is one 

 that once would hardly have been hoped for, certainly not expected. 



Mr. W. C. Strong has long entertained and expressed the opinion, that 

 hardy grapes for the supply of the market could be profitably cultivated, and 

 has with his associate, Mr. Spooner, been attempting it on an extensive 

 scale. Thus far, the experiment has been satisfactory. Mr. Strong has been 

 kind enough to furnish the following account of his method of cultivation, that 

 cannot be otherwise than highly appreciated, as giving the views and opinions 

 of a gentleman of much mental culture and great skill and experience in 

 horticulture. Mr. Strong says, " You will recollect that I have dilFered from 

 the majority of the Fruit Committee in years past, in regard to the practi- 

 cability of growing grapes for the market in our State. I am inclined to 

 comply with your request to state my method of training, since the request 

 may be construed as a partial admission that my experiment ia a success. 

 At the outset I started in the belief that our winters are too severe for the 

 \v:ioe. Not that the cane is often killed outright, but it is frequently and 

 seriously injured, and almost invariably the vitality is so perceptibly affected 

 by a full exposure to the cold, that protection must be regarded as an ab- 

 solute rule, as a sine qua no7i for vineyard culture. Boards, mats, boughs, hay, 

 leaves, and other such materials are used for winter covering. But these 

 are more or less expensive, they require considerable labor, and harbor mice 

 that are very apt to spoil the vine. Above all, these materials are not a per- 

 fect protection. Trailing the vine upon the ground in a line with the rows, 

 and covering with soil, is the simplest, cheapest and most perfect protection. 

 It is beautiful to see how supple and full of life the canes are after such a 

 winter's sleep. They start with, and maintain a vigor that not only increases 

 the size, but also materially hastens the time of ripening the fruit. 



" I allude to this subject of winter protection, in connection with the method 

 of training, because I would make every method bend to the rule of bending 

 the cane to the ground in the fall. The Thomery method may be admirable 

 for sunny France, and has been admirably drawn out in a series of ' Thirty- 

 nine Articles,' more or less, for America, but I very much doubt its practical 

 value for New England, at least. As your limits require me to be brief, I 

 cannot enter into particulars, but will only state what my experiences teaches 

 to be the best conditions. 



" The best position is a steep side hill, sloping south. For short jointed 

 .varieties, that do not have large and luxuriant foliage, the Delaware for ex- 

 •Sbrnple, training to a trellis is probably the cheapest and best method. The 

 ,row3 may be six feet apart, and the vines the same distance in the row. 

 The posts for the trellis may be fifteen feet apart, and six feet in height 

 above ground. Wire is cheaper, neater and more durable than lattice. Five 

 wires will be found quite sufficient for a trellis of this height. The first 

 wite junning eighteen inches from the ground. In the spring, when the vines 

 are uncovered, about April 1st, instead of tying the canes perpendicularly to 



