proceedings op the farmers' club. 237 



Pruning Vines. 



Mr. Geo. II. Ilitc explained tlie method he adopts in pruning grape vines, 

 so as to grow tlio fruit on a single cane. I prefer fall pruning, leaving an 

 extra bud until the spring, which should then be rubbed off. 



Mr. Wni. S. Carpenter. — I think it injures vines to allow them to bleed, 

 if tlie injury is not seen immediately it will be found at a later period. I 

 would reeommend that the vines be trimmed late in the fall after the fall- 

 ing of the leaf, or early in the spring. 



Mr, Thos. Cavenach. — I have never seen any ill effects from the bleeding 

 of the vine. 



Dr. John B. Rich. — I am a seeker after knowledge, but reasoning from 

 analogy I should say that any waste of sap is an injury to the vine. 



Mr. Cavenach. — I know that in planting shade trees in streets, we are 

 often obliged to cut off the lower Jimbs, these bleed very much, and run 

 down the stem and injure the trees. 



Mr. R. II. Williams. — I deem this an important question, I have lived 

 the best part of my life in a sugar making conhty. I have never seen any 

 ill effects from repeated tapping of maple trees. I have seen grape vines 

 trinnned in the spring which bled very much, but still the vines bore a 

 large crop of grapes. 



On motion, it was resolved that Mr, Thos. Cavenach be invited to give 

 some experiments in training flowering shrubs, at the next meeting. 



Adjourned. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



February 7, 1865. 

 Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair. 



Earth Fences. 



Mr. Adrian Bergen called attention to a notice of a new patent earth 

 fence which can be made for fifty cent^ per rod, besides labor. It is said 

 to be applicable for all soils and climates. It is never affected by frost. 

 Ue wished to know if it is worthy of attention. 



On motion of Mr. Carpenter it was 



liesolved, That Mr. A, Bergen be a committee to examine and report upon 

 the merits of this fence. 



Dr. J. H. Warder, of Cincinnati, Ohio. — I have seen miles of these fences 

 in Illinois, but I believe that they have been condemned. They look very 

 beautiful when first built, being sodded on each side, but the frost soon 

 affects them. These fences were built by English farmers who settled in 

 the Rock River county, I think, however, that we should fence our own 

 cattle in and not our neighbors' cattle out. 



To Prevent Marks of Small-Pox. 



Mr, Adrian Bergen. — The people in my neighborhood ai'e excited about 

 small-pox, and the young folks dread it on account of the disSgnrement of 

 the face. Now, I have heard Mr, Solon Robinson say that he has had the 

 disease, and as he does not appear to be marked with any of its usual pits 

 in the face, if he can tell others how to avoid them, he will do a greater 



