PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 235 



that the grass cannot possibly grow, and furnishing food for the young 

 vines. 



2d. Our method of cultivation does not differ, materially, from that 

 given to other crops. We use the plow, cultivator and hoe freely, so as 

 to keep the ground clear. We are careful not to plow deep, near the vine, 

 so as to endanger the main roots, but prefer cutting off the surface roots. 

 After the crop has been gathered, we plow, throwing the earth to the vines, 

 leaving an open furrow midway between the rows so as to carry off the 

 water, and in the spring plow from the vines. 



3d. "We train our vines to two stakes each (stakes seven feet long), 

 placing them from twenty inches to two feet on either side of the vine. 



4th. We adopt the spur, or short pruning, leaving spurs, with two buds 

 each, at regular intervals, and the leading cane with five or six buds. 

 When vines first begin to bear there should not be more than one or two 

 spui's left on each branch, but as the vine acquires strength more should 

 be left. 



5th. Our vines are now seven and eight years old, and this season yield- 

 ed four and one-third tons per acre. I think they may be made to yield 

 five or more tons to the acre. 



The reader will observe that here is no trenching at $75 an acre, nor 

 draining at half the sum ; and not even sub-soiling. The Cincinnati grape- 

 growers, in speaking of this method, predict that after a few years vines 

 planted in this way will gradually die out. I could not see it. But sup- 

 pose they do. It is easier to replant a vineyard every ten years than to 

 trench. It is a small job to raise roots from layers. 



Four tons and one-third are 8,666 pounds. Twenty bushels of wheat, a 

 good yield for an acre, are only 1,200 pounds ; 50 bushels of corn, 2,800 

 pounds ; 100 bushels of potatoes, 5,000 pounds. The average price of 

 these crops will not be two cents a pound. If grapes will not bring eight 

 cents a pound it is more profitable to make them into wine. An acre 

 of Dr. Dunham's grapes would make more than 700 gallons of wine. 

 After the fourth year, the expense attending an acre of grapes will not ex- 

 ceed that of wheat, because what costs more is balanced by the pleasure 

 one has in working them. A horticulturist often prefers some kinds of 

 work to eating oysters or reading novels. 



Here is the place to show how one is to be free from the care which bur- 

 dens so many, in wanting help. It is to be understood that no more is to 

 be undertaken, except in times of harvest, than you and your family can 

 do alone. As a general thing, I never saw any good come of depending 

 on hired help to raise large quantities of fruit ; and in commencing the 

 business it will not do at all. Often will the waste of wages consume the 

 profits, and more too, and the deficiency must bo met from other sources. 

 Where there is much hired help, there are repeated complaints of careless- 

 ness, and of rare plants being hoed up, because they are supposed to be 

 weeds. The great evil lies in having too much land. Twenty acres, well 

 worked, make a large farm. 



I will speak of one more vineyard, and where much other fruit also is raised. 

 If I desire one thing more than another, as regards our country at large, it 

 is, to see professional and literary men become growers of fruit, owners of 



