• PPOCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 267 



"wliich in some cases was duiio with an axe, leaving the tree to recover 

 from the rough clipping the best it could. The general result was a light 

 crt)p of apples. In two towns they adopted what I term clean cnltiire, viz: 

 The second year after they were transplanted, and each year afterwards, 

 they ploughed both ways amongst the trees, thoroughly niamncd, and kept 

 down the weeds. By that means the root shot down below the plough, 

 and the ground under the trees was in gocHi condition. This j^ear their 

 trees bore full and the apples largo. On inquiry amongst the apple dealers 

 at what locality they received their best fruit from, they all without excep- 

 tion named this locality. To those who need further proof they need not 

 go further than the pine forest to see that the God of nature practices the 

 same or arrives at the same mode, 011I3' in a different way. The foliage of 

 the pine is shed, and drops to its roots, covers tliom and rots; no weeds 

 finds place there, and if j'ou will take pains to dig tlirough that covering 

 you will find the soil thoroughly pulverized and lighter than any means 

 which art has found as yet. But, the reader will say, mulching with straw 

 would answer the same purpose. I have no doubt it would, but perhaps it 

 might serve to harbor the mice. 



One orchard attracted my attention by the smooth and thrifty appearance 

 of the bark. On inquiry of the owner he partly attributed it, besides clean 

 culture, to a practice of his of putting a cow dung in the crotch of the 

 tree every spring. The same principle acts on my own grounds. In regard 

 to the other crops this last observation may seem to be needless to the 

 mere reader; but if he will stroll amongst the farmers, or t^iose who pre- 

 tend to that honorable title, but whom I designate as plodders of the soil, 

 he will find that every acre they till is covered with weeds left to scatter 

 their seeds. 



Pruning Grape Vines. 



Mr. P. T. Quinn at the request of a number of members, explained his 

 manner of pruning grape vines, and gave an illustration upon the black- 

 board of pruning grape vines from the first to the third year, when they 

 are supposed to have their fixed form. Cut back the vines the first year 

 to three buds, and grow two canes from the two upper buds, rubbing off 

 the lower one. ' Lay three canes down upon a trellis bar fifteen inches 

 above the ground, and cut them off four feet long. Next year, if the eyes 

 are too close for growing the upright cane, cut out those on the under side 

 of the arm. The canes should be twelve or fifteen inches apart. The first 

 four eyes of these canes will produce fruit. Upon young vines only one 

 bunch to each cane should be allowed to grow. Stop the growth of the 

 cane about four leaves above the fruit, and stop the laterals that will start 

 at two eyes. It will be necessary to go over the vines about three times. 

 The next year cut these canes back to two eyes, and you may grow four 

 bunches to each cane: and you will continue to cut back these arms in'tho^ 

 same way every 3'ear, and never later than the middle of March. It 

 would be better not to make it later than the middle of February. If the 

 stump upon the arms from which you grow your canes should eventually 

 become so long'as to be unsightly, you may generally start a new bud 

 lower down so as to cut away the old stump at the next pruning. 



