THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 107 



poorest subsoil on top, to prevent surface roots. Select two-year-old plants, and 

 set six feet apart, in rows eight feet apart, preferably north and south. Cultivate 

 well ; it pays. Trellises should be so arranged as to have the foliage cover the 

 fruit, protecting it from rain and summer sun. This is best done by placing the 

 wires in a triangular manner. I prefer trellises of wood not over four feet high. 

 Prune while the sap is down. Close pruning insures better quality ; leave one to 

 three eyes to each last year's spur. Summer prune directly after the bloom 

 falls. " Tip " the vine at the joint above the last cluster set. Thin out the weak 

 shoots ; keep well ventilated below. A pint of unleached wood ashes at base of 

 vine is the best stimulant I have found, and it also repels insects. Adherence to 

 these rules has, in the past twelve years, given me bountiful crops each year, 

 with no mildew, black rot, bird's-eye rot, or any withered by drought. 



E. P. FISHER, Sterling, Rice county: I am testing sixty varieties, and will 

 classify them. In the first class I will place, as hardy, vigorous, and productive, 

 Worden, Concord, Moore's Early, Telegraph, Jewel, Champion, Martha, Niag- 

 ara, Pocklington, Early Victor, Eaton, Etta, Antoinette, Isabella, Victoria, Jes- 

 sica, Green Mountain, Moyer, Ives, and Catawba. Fine table varieties : Diamond, 

 Berckman's, Jefferson, Delaware, Willis, Oriental, Witt, Mills, Empire State, Uls- 

 ter Prolific, Vergennes, Duchess, Prentiss, Triumph, Lindley, Goethe, Newton, 

 and Brighton. I have the following new kinds to fruit next season : Geneva, 

 Rock wood, Esther, Eaton, Ozark, White's Northern Muscat, Early Ohio, Car- 

 man, and Colrain. I have several seedlings of my own. I especially recommend 

 Victoria as a late white grape; also Etta (very late), quality excellent. If Ozark 

 does as well next season as this, I shall consider it a great acquisition. It is said 

 to be very late, good size, and good quality. I am pleased with Worden; it is 

 larger and better than Concord, but no earlier here. Its fault is poor shipping 

 quality. Brighton is a sure and abundant bearer (if protected in winter), of fine 

 quality. The best keepers and shippers are Mills (black), Duchess (white), and 

 Vergennes. Red Catawba and Jefferson are good keepers and shippers. Wor- 

 den and Berckman's seem deficient in firmness. Telegraph is inclined to over- 

 bear. I picked ripe Jewel July 21, and Etta were not all ripe when struck by 

 frost, October 8. Etta is reliable, good bearer and the best late white. Moyer 

 is a small, red grape, of excellent quality, ripening with Moore's Early. Herbert, 

 Wilder and lona are fine grapes, and will succeed here with a little winter pro- 

 tection. The Wilder is probably the best. 



DISCUSSION. 



PROF. S. C. MASON: Eldorado and Lady are good varieties, but each requires 

 winter protection. I have not observed a lack of pollinating power. 



F. HOLSINGER: Moore's Early, Champion, Concord, Goethe and Worden 

 are all the varieties needed. I see no use of a long list, as mentioned. I would 

 plant no white variety ; they do not sell as well as Concord. For profit, Concord, 

 Champion and Worden cannot be surpassed. 



PROF. S. C. MASON: I would reluctantly offer Champion to a visiting friend. 



THE PRESIDENT: Major Holsinger treats his friends with such varieties as 

 Goethe and Martha. 



B. F. SMITH : We should all try new sorts as they are offered. By so doing 

 we may find varieties better than we are growing. 



THE PRESIDENT : I would prefer Rochester, if confined to one variety other 

 than Concord. It is a very fine table sort, handsome, ranking next to the Dela- 

 ware in flavor. The vine is always strong and vigorous with me. Francis B. 

 Hays ranks next. Etta is worthy our culture; is a heavy bearer and nice for 

 table use. 



E. J. HOLM AN : Ives is a profitable sort. 



