364 
STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Have no trouble in raising currants anywhere; will grow in 
poor soil; but the richer the soil, the more and better fruit. 
J. C. Plumb—Decidedly a northern fruit; farther south does 
not do so well, but have yet to hear of the location at the North 
that can’t grow them. In regard to varieties and cultivation 
I concur in the remarks of Mr. Stephens, but don’t object to 
the straw manure mulch and litter, but decidedly recommend 
it for summer and winter; especially in small plantations set 
in plats or squares, it is the best mode of cultivation. Would 
recommend the bush system of culture, and the quadrenial 
system of pruning, viz: Each year allow three strong shoots 
to grow from the ground, and cut away all four years old wood 
immediately after fruiting; this gives six strong three and four 
years old branches for fruiting, and three more, or the year¬ 
ling shoots, can be made to fruit the second year by pinching 
in when two-thirds grown. This is the easiest mode of sys¬ 
tematic pruning. 
E. B. Quiner—Never saw ground too rich for the currant; 
mulch and work the ground thoroughly. 
Recommended for general cultivation, Red and White Dutch 
and White Grape. For further trial, Victoria, Red and White 
Gendemin, Red Grape, Cherry, Long Bunch Red, Knights 
Sweet Red, Versailes. 
GRAPES. 
Stevens thinks the Northern Muscadine a good grape, well 
worthy a place in every garden. Bunches usually large; 
fruit well set. Diana and Delaware are superior to Isabella 
in flavor and much earlier; the first being as large. Concord 
is better in earliness but not in flavor. Diana vines perfectly 
hardy and good grower; have made growth three-fourth inch 
in diameter this season. Elsingburgh, a very fine sweet table 
grape. Clinton, good hardy vine and an abundant bearer, 
where better ones fail. 
Plumb would put the Elsingburgh first in the list of hardy 
vines. Vermont is hardy, and resembles the first in manner 
of growth. Charter Oak is very nice to look at, but not worth 
the ground it occupies. All grapes bear better if laid down in 
