122 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. John Bergen. — The influence of water to the culture of the grape is 

 shown by the fine crop of grapes raised at Kelly's Island. A large number 

 of vineyards are being laid out on the borders of Lake Erie. 



On motion, Mr. R. H. Williams was appointed a committee to visit the 

 exhibition of the Pleasant Valley Fruit Growers' Association. 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



October 4, 1864. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair. 



Farms in Missouri. 



Mr. J. S. Newmeyer, Le Platte county, Missouri, says: 

 " Farms are selling there at six to twelve dollars an acre. The soil is 

 good for wheat, rye, oats, corn, clover, timothy and fruit. Winter grain is 

 sometimes subject to winter kill. Slavery is considered dead. There never 

 were many slaves here, and they have nearly all left. As regards good 

 Union people being safe, there are places they would be perfectly safe, and 

 others that they would not be safe at all. The most of this county would 

 be safe at present, between here and the Mississippi river. I would advise 

 the man who inquired, by all means to take a little time and come out and 

 see the country. I have lived here eight years; was born and raised in 

 Fayette county, Pennsylvania." 



Mr. Hawkins, mayor of Oregon city, and Mr. Kaucher, sheriff of Holt 

 county, also write in the same tenor. They say that county is one of the 

 most peaceable in that State. The soil is good, cheap and inviting to good 

 Union men. Slavery is past resurrection. 



Yield of Grapes to the Acre. 



Mr. Solon Robinaon. — I regret that Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter is not present, 

 as I have a letter critieising very sharply his statement that it is possible 

 to raise ten tons of grapes to the acre. Mr. Carpenter said that ten tons, 

 20,000 pounds of grapes, might be raised on an acre of land, and this quan- 

 tity, at 15 cents per pound, would amount to §3,000. This correspondent 

 asks if that is not drawing a long bow. Mr. Robinson then made the fol- 

 lowing calculation: There are 43,560 superficial feet in an acre. A vine 

 trained to a single stake can be grown upon four feet of ground. Say 

 10,000 vines per acre. At only two pounds per vine the yield would be 10 

 tons. Or if the vines are planted at twice the above distance apart, or 

 four feet each way, which is much more than is necessary, there would be 

 2,722 per acre. At 7^ pounds per vine, we should have 20,415 pounds. 

 Grape vines trained to single stakes will grow as closely as hills of Indian 

 corn. Say three feet apart each way, and we have 4,840 vines. It is not 

 "shooting with a very long bow " to estimate an average yield of five 

 pounds per vine, after the vineyard has attained its maturity, if it is well 

 cared for. The members of this Club know vines standing thus near 

 together which averaged more than this the present year. But suppose 

 upon such close planting as three feet apart we only estimate a yield of 



