VINES. 43 



they only yielded here and there a fruit. He might 

 have sold those vines repeatedly, but he refused to do 

 so, and ultimately pulled them up and threw them 

 into the pond. We asked him what the difference be- 

 tween those barren vines and the fruitful ones was. 

 This is his statement relative to this point : 



"The barren vines looked greener, had more bushy 

 leaves, and stronger or thicker spears than those which 

 produced the most fruit. I felt confident from their 

 appearance that they were the best vines I ever saw; 

 but I lived to find out that those signs which I took 

 to indicate the productiveness of the plant, were only 

 symptoms of disease, which disease means barrenness"* 



This is the only case we have met with in which 

 there was such a total failure in the productiveness of 

 a good-looking vine. 



From what has been here stated, we fear that the diffi- 

 culty of distinguishing between the barren and fruit- 

 ful vine has not been much obviated ; but we will now 

 state a method of selecting your vines, which cannot 

 fail of assuring you of their real qualities. 



We assume that you contemplate making a Cran- 

 berry Patch, that you have not on your own farm any 

 vines, consequently you will have to go abroad for 

 them. 



1. Ascertain who has the vine to dispose of. If you 



* Mr. Thomas Shiverick. 



