28 
SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE 
ara vines, and on our sandy soil more Herbemont, Norton’s 
Virginia and Cynthiana; plant on higher land than has been 
previously recommended; use as a fertilizer plenty of am¬ 
monia, phosphoric acid and sulphate of potash ; work vine- 
3 ^ards using clean culture up to June 1. In South Florida 
we must trust to express and transportation companies to 
give us better service or we must go out of the business.” 
These conclusions are drawn from a state where a large variety 
of grapes grow to perfection. 
Discussion on Grapes. 
Mr. Geo. H. Wright —I wish to state that Mr. H. P. 
Hand, of Daytona, was the third member of this Committee 
on Grapes. Mr. Stewart wrote me that he was an amateur in 
grape growing I replied that it was the amateur, as a rule, 
that brought out new thoughts and new ideas, not only in 
grape growing but in all planting. I regret that Mr. Stewart 
is not here. 
Mr. H. S. Williams —The paper read by Mr. Wright does 
not show a very glowing future for grapes in South Florida. I 
should like to hear from Mr. Mellish on this subject. 
Mr. G. W. Mellish— I do not know that I have anything new 
to offer. I presume we have some advantages in West Florida 
over South Florida growers. We are within twenty-four 
hours of Cincinnati and thirty-six of Chicago, and our Niag¬ 
ara grapes have been shipped to both points without any re¬ 
port of bad condition when received. We grow our grapes, 
at least most of us, on high sandy soil, thoroughly well 
drained, naturally. One small vineyard was planted in our 
section on soil where the clay was within possibly a foot of 
the surface and in going by the vineyard one evening the 
owner called me and shook the grape vine, causing the grapes 
to fall to the ground. I told him to come up to my place and 
see my grapes. He did come and I took him out to the vine¬ 
yard and shook the vines, but they did not fall. I do not 
know the reason of it except that it may have been caused by 
the wet weather and poorly drained soil. I had used potash 
and that may have had something to do with it, but I do not 
know. I certainly should not expect profitable returns from 
grapes grown on heavy soil, unless thoroughly drained. The 
