168 TKANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I am glad to hear evidence that these berries grow 

 naturally of that size, for the sample exhibited at Rochester was generally 

 supposed to have been produced by the ringing process, and the taste of 

 the berries confirmed that opinion in some degree, being, as I thought, 

 quite watery, and lacking richness. 



Pruning Grapes. 



In answer to this question. Prof. Mapes answered: About the 25th of 

 November; and as to how much to prune, he said: Cut away all unripe 

 wood. The rule with all grape vines should be much root and little top, 

 though many persons believe that fruit grown upon the end of a long vine 

 is richer than that grown near the root. During the summer rest a dash of 

 guano water will set them growing again. 



Mr. John G. Bergen. — I think there is more in this winter killing that 

 we know of. The wood is immature, but I have bunches of vines that have 

 run into trees, the wood of which will ripen to the very end, while the 

 wood of other branches of the vine is not ripe. I do not find what is called 

 summer rest. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I see some persons cut the leaves off their grape 

 vines to ripen the fruit. I ask if this is the proper method ? 



Mr. A. S. Fuller. — Some very old horticulturists entertain the same 

 opinion, and it is common now in Europe, where very sweet, choice fruit is 

 desired, to train vines high. I would always prune, if possible, in Novem- 

 ber or December, and cut back to mature wood; and I would assist its 

 maturing by summer pruning, though I would never prune off leaves so as 

 to expose the fruit, because grapes thus exposed, though they may turn 

 black earlier, will not be as luscious as those grown in the shade. As to 

 summer rest, I find a number of my trees in July do stop growing for a 

 time, and then take a second start. 



Cranberries. 



Prof. Mapes. — I have lately seen at Lakeland, L. I., upon high, dry land, 

 sandy soil, a bountiful crop of cranberries. They are planted in rows, and 

 cultivated between like other garden vegetables; there is no means of irri- 

 gation or overflowing, which I had supposed necessary to prevent des- 

 truction by insects. 



Mr. Solon Robinson said that flooding cranberry beds was not for the pur- 

 pose of killing insects, but for the purpose of keeping back the blossoming, 

 so as to prevent the destruction of the fruit by late spring frosts. 



Dr. Clark, of Burlington county, N. J., said there were many natural 

 cranberry bogs in that county, and many new plantations making, but no 

 crops yet produced upon dry land. Some wild ones grow upon land that 

 is nearly dry, where no water stands, and where the flats are never over- 

 flowed. The information about cranberries among the old inhabitants is 

 crude and untrustworthy, though the opinion prevails that they will pro- 

 duce 200 or 300 bushels per acre. The only fear, then, about a good crop 

 is on account of spring frosts. At the present time a great many parties 

 are planting cranberry vines. 



