212 The Connecticut Pomological Society 



Owing to a severe storm of snow and ice, the speakers 

 were late in arriving and it was not until 12:45 that the meet- 

 ing was called to order by President Merriman. 



Mr. C. I. Allen, of Terryville, was the first speaker, his 

 topic being, "Berries, Grapes and Currants: their Successful 

 Cultivation." Mr. Allen referred first to the culture of grapes, 

 of which he has made a success. The site for the vineyard is 

 of prime importance, in order to avoid frosts and fungous 

 troubles. A high southern slope is best. These varieties 

 were recommended for market: Worden, Concord, Delaware, 

 Niagara, Lindley and Brighton. Early Ohio is promising but 

 rather too small in berry. Early Victor is a fine grower but 

 also too small. Moore's Early will sell if well ripened. The 

 Worden is his best and most profitable grape, and from the 

 fact that it is a poor shipper we have an advantage over the 

 western New York growers. Grapes should be sprayed every 

 season, the early spraying being of the most importance. In 

 pruning he cuts back his vines to two canes and trains these to 

 upper vines of the trellis. This avoids tying during the growing 

 season. Mr. Allen advises cutting back each year to canes of 

 last year's growth, as the old wood bears no fruit, and aiming 

 to keep new wood to secure a crop of fruit. Prune according 

 to the vigor of the variety. For marketing the 5 -lb. basket is 

 the best package. 



Mr. Allen receives better prices for his grapes than do the 

 New York growers and finds the crop a sure one. His market 

 is within the state and the home competition is small. He 

 would advise studying the market to see what can be done to 

 supply the near-by dealers. Our grapes are better flavored than 

 the western fruit, because they can be more thoroughly ripened 

 on the vine. 



A vigorous discussion followed Mr. Allen's address, when 

 the following points were brought out : 



Late pruning of grapes does not rob the vine of vigor. Mr. 

 Allen sees no difference as to time of pruning, only a weak- 

 growing vine should be pruned shorter; he has never found 

 summer pruning, as practiced by the French, to be of advantage 

 to him. Mr. Chas. Leigey, of Berlin, told of the methods of 

 grape-growing in vogue in France and also his own methods. 



