How to raise Isabella Grapes. 549 



probably would be ; yet, both combined, through a very 

 little leaven, tne whole lump will be leavened. The many 

 strange faces I have seen, rambling about my very limited 

 premises, assure me that the public are not unmindful of my 

 doings ; and the evident interest in my success, exhibited 

 by all, has sufficiently repaid me all the expense, as well as 

 afforded me real and continual gratification during the whole 

 season. Nevertheless, I am not yet ready to enter the lists 

 of generous rivalry with my Kennebec friends, in the raising 

 of fruit. Many of them possess wealth, and all of them 

 soil, which I do not ; but energy and ingenuity have accom- 

 plished much in this world ; I do "never despair." In 1852, 

 if my usual robust health continues, I will appear to the 

 Society, with my samples of what can be done in this State 

 in the way of fruit raising. In the mean time I will jog on 

 at my usual pace, a brisk trot, and see if anything can be 

 grown another year^ worthy of sending to my yet unseen 

 friend, the editor of the " Farmer." But, lest too much 

 might be anticipated, I will merely say here, that the whole 

 extent of my far77i will not exceed a third of an acre. This 

 is small ; but it is fed, you may depend. At another time I 

 will say something about the soil and the rich profusion of 

 its products. 



My object, at present, is to say something about grapes, 

 and more particularly I design to speak of the Isabella grape ; 

 the soil it likes the best; the aspect; the pruning of the 

 vine ; the thinning of the fruit ; and the very great degree 

 of cold the grapes will bear in autumn, without the slightest 

 injury. I shall only speak of what I do know, and let theory 

 alone. As my large vine illustrates fully all I have to say 

 about it, I will describe that, premising, only, that they can 

 be grown in any other shape, though this is considered the 

 best. 



In the autumn of 1845, I bought a variety of vines and 

 shrubs of Messrs. Hovey & Co., of Boston, and among 

 others, this "Isabella" vine. I paid one dollar for the vine. 

 It had three arms or branches starting from the very root, 

 each about as large as one's little finger ; the diameter of 



