106 STATE POMOLCGICAL SOCIETY. 



When it is desired to increase the number of any particular 

 valicty it may bo easily and successfully accomplished by laying 

 down, in spring, before the leaves have started, a lower branch 

 or cane trained tlie preceding season for the purpose, in a shallow 

 trench, pinning it down and covering it with two inches of good 

 soil. All the sound eyes or buds will put forth roots and send up 

 new vines, which must be fastened to sticks for support. By 

 autumn they will exist independently and may be cut from the 

 parent stock and also from each other, and transplanted after the 

 fall of the leaves. By this mode of culture about a bushel of ripe, 

 native grapes has been raised for several j'ears in a limited space 

 on the south wall of the building, and in the garden, suitable for 

 the table, for jelly and for wine. Thej' have not been subject to 

 the attacks of insects, have not suffered from diseases, and have 

 been but slightly affected by mildew. The chief obstacles to suc- 

 cess have been the shortness of the growing season and the sever- 

 ity of the winters. 



There have been on trial the Deleware, Black Cluster, Hartford 

 Prolific, Israella, lona, Rebecca, Salem, Eumelan, Diana, Alleu's 

 Hybrid, Concord, White Sweetwater, Isabella and Catawba. 



The Deleware has proved the most desirable, combining mod- 

 erate vigor, hardiness, and productiveness of vine, early maturity 

 and superior quality of fruit. It usually ripens from the 15Lh to 

 the 30th of September. Last spring all grape vines started late, 

 and were retarded by cold winds, hence the whole crop was not 

 thoroughly ripe before the lOth of October. A grape equal to the 

 Deleware in all respects, which would mature before the early 

 frosts of autumn, would be exceedingly valuable for Maine. 

 Destructive frost often occurs between the 20th and 30th of Sep- 

 tember, — destroys the foliage in exposed localities, and prevents 

 further ripening. 



The Black Cluster, or Burgund^J-, is the hardiest and earliest of 

 the foreign grapes. It begins to color the first of September, im- 

 proves by hanging, and usually fully matures by the 20th of the 

 month ; buncii small, very compact, berries medium, black, flavor 

 Bweet and excellent, improved by thinning both bunches and 

 berries. It requires extra protection in winter. It was formerly 

 the favorite grape of the gardens of Montreal. 



The Hartford Prolific is hardy, vigorous and very productive, aa 

 its name indicates, and is the most easilj'^ cultivated. It flourishes 

 in any good corn land, bears neglect better than any other variety, 



