The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-07-20
Meeting OF the Hooking Valley Horti.
cultural Society.
HoRmCULTURAL Rooms,


n LANCASTER, July 8, IS.
Society met pursuant to adjourn
ment; Vice President Black, in the
Chair. .
Minutes of previous meeting read
and approved. After which the Vice
President added his testimony as to
the efficacy of the presence of iron
in pear trees as u prevention of
blight. Further general remarks were
made by various members, all tending
to approve the theory advanced at the
last meeting. "The nearer the runner
to the parent plant, tho better the pro-
duct Of the plant. ''
DIR. Dennis. remarking that he had
visited Mr., Fctters' vineyard, and,
finding that his cuttings had made
more wood thfn his one year rooted
plants, would be glad to hear state
ment on the subject. ....t,.. IT,.
Mr.. Fetters reported his success in
.propagating the Delaware grape from
cuttings as certainly very encouraging
being indebted in part, no doubt, to
the favorable season, but largely, he
thinks 10 the modus opcrandi." Com
mencing by7making his cuttings, say
three eyes long, then cutting with a
sharp knife all the bark Off the base
of the cutting close up to the first eye
and as fast as thus prepared, putting
the peeled end to soak in a sturh of
fresh COW manure, laying them in the
ground as in the ordinary practice
The imperfect or weak cuttings were
cut into single eyes and laid them in
a common hot bed. Nine out of ten
grew, and transplanting them in about
five weeks, found they had roots two
and three inches long. $500 Catawba
cuttings were prepared in the same
manner as the stronger Delaware and
planted in the vineyard 7 by 8 feet
apart, two TO each stake, and Of the lot
so prepared and planted, over $500
grew, showing a growth of new wood
at this date 4 to 10 inches long.
The subject for the day was then
taken up. The following theory and
practice being most generally approx.
ed: Water joined to vegetable matter
or manure; makes sap, consequently
more in wet sods and wet seasons than
in dry-morc in a tree grated on a
Seeding with thirsty roots Than the
graft on ounce with dry roots. Sap
makes wood, leaf and fruit. Crude
sap is elaborated in the leaf and re-
turned between the bark and wood,
forming fruit buds only when the flow
is slow Of sluggish; if impetuous, leaf
and wood f; practice on pruning to be
governed accordingly.
A Seeding seldom bears under four
years, but if at four Years the top is
bent down to the root thereby impe-
ding the flow ofsap by change of posi-
tion and compress of sap arteries, fruit
buds whl be formed. A vino trained
vertically seldom will fruit until its
top lops on tree or trellis in a down
ward or horizontal position. In sum.
mer pruning there is this established
rule:-"Tho bearing wood for the next
yoar should never be topped or prun-
ned in any way; but when the top of
the stake or trcllis is reached, itshould
be made to change its course of grow
ing if it does not change naturally.
When trimming close, cutting of
much wood, the roots continue to sup
ply sap as if they had to nourish the
parts cut away; But how this sap be-
ing surplus, turns aside to form new
wood, and if in breaking this off it is
damned up and imperfcctly elaborated,
makes poor wood, curled leaf, and rot
in thefruit. t.l, j.
A choice sample of Catawba wine
was exhibited by Mr.. Boving) as a
specimen of the product of his viRc-
yard. .r ."fr 49,.
On motion society adjourhed 10
continue the subject at next meeting,
Saturday, 22d- inst.
eLa RI. BLACK, V.P,
Join MAccRAcKEN, Sec'y.