ALBANY NURSERIES 
etc., that is not too shallow or too heavily pregnated with alkali. The soil 
must be well drained, and there should be a free exposure to the sun and 
air. Hillsides, unsuitable for other crops, are good places for grapes. 
Crops. Crop grapes moderately if you would have fine, well-ripened 
fruit. A vine is capable of bringing only a certain amount of fruit to per- 
fection, proportioned to its size and 
strength; but it usually sets more 
fruit than it can mature; reduce the 
crop early in the season to a moder- 
erate number of good clusters and 
cut off the small inferior branches; 
the remainder will be worth more 
than the whole would have been. A 
very heavy crop is usually a disas- 
trous one. 
Pruning. — Annual and careful 
pruning is essential to the produc- 
tion of good grapes. If the roots are 
called upon to support too much 
wood, they cannot bring to maturity 
a fine crop of fruit. The pruning 
should be done in November, De- 
cember, February or March, while 
the vines are entirely dormant. 
Gathering and Keeping. — Grapes 
for keeping, to be used in their 
fresh state, should be allowed to re- 
main upon the vines until perfectly 
matured, but not much longer. Pick 
them when perfectly dry. Let them 
stand in open baskets or boxes for 
about ten days in a cool, dry room; 
and after sorting out all decayed 
and imperfect berries, pack them in 
shallow boxes and cover closely. 
Wv „ u ,„, r Use no paper, but basswood or elm 
boxes, if convenient. Pine and 
other resinous woods should not be used, as they flavor the fruit disagree- 
ably. After packing, keep the boxes where it is both cool and dry. Un- 
der careful management some varieties may be kept until Spring. 
•B., black varieties; R., red or amber; W., white. 
AMERICAN VARIETIES. 
Brighton. R. Cross between Concord 
and Diana Hamburg. Resembles Catawba 
in color, size and form and bunch of berry; 
flesh rich, sweet and of the best quality.’ 
