The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-04-19
msstlns OF the Hooking valley Iorti-
/ cultural society. ~
HoRTIcULTuRAL Rooms,

l2NN]pA - RetN - ~ ~ 1
Society met, pursuant to adjourn
mept- President Kinkead in the
Chair.
The minutes Of the preceding meet
ing were read and approved. 1
Mr., J. A. Fetters, Corresponding
Secretary, presented and read a guam
tity of eorrespondence-whic was or
dered to be placed on file He also
presented packages containing four
varieties Of spring barley, received
from the Department of Agriculture,
which were distributed to members for
trial andreport.
The name of A R. Keller was pro-
posed for membership by Mr.. A.,
Fetters, and upon the usual ballotipg
he was. declared duly elected. 7
Mr.. Boving moved that the society,
previous to taking up the regular ques-
tion for discussion re. open the last
question discussed, so far as relates to
the comparative merits Of stake and
trellis training for grapes; which was
agreed to-whereupon Mr.. Boving
gave at some length, his reasons for
preferring the trellis to the stake meth
cd Of training
He was decidedly in favor Of this
method for training our native yines,
because they are of too vigorous growth
TO stand tho oloso pruning praoticod in
Europe. An excess of either tops or
roots will produce disease, and the
proper equilibrium between them is
most easily preserved under the trellis
system. Vines may be left to grow
rampant, and cover a great deal of
space, and still produce good crops, if
the soil is kept sufficiently rich. He
mentioned vine near Cleveland train
ed distance of 16 feet on trellis, which
produced much better crop in proper
tion to space occupied, than vines but
six feet apart. Ho adduced Mr.. How
arth S views, in favor of more wood for
larger crops and less mildew or rot,
and against the theory or practice of
dwarfng, also against any summer
pruning except with the thumb; all
which advantages are better attained
or evils avoided under the trellis than
under the stake system. He approved
tho plan of Mr.. Fetters, which coinci-
ded with that of the best authors on
grapes, of laying down on the lower
wire Of two permanent horizontal arms
and raising spurs or canes from them,
| for better distribution of new growth,
as well as for more equal distribution
of the sap to the buds ofall parts of the
vine, and greater fruitfulness. The
largest crops have been grown on trel.
lis. A single vine in California, now
!. 65 years old, which has never been
close pruned, but has spread over a
large space, produced 5000 pounds at o
single crop. Mr.. Clarks mode ofstake
training shows the single advantage
of free circulation of air among the
vines, but between his close planting
of 5 by 5 feet, and that Of rows az least
8 feet apart, on trellis, there would per,
haps not be much difference.
Mr. Clark reiterated his former argu,
ments in favor of the stake system
and added as a further objection to trel
lis training, that it produced too mucl
fruit. A yearly product of 500 galloni
vino to the acre, for 3 years out o
every 5 is enough, both for profit, ant
permanent vigor of vine. He adhered
TO the opinion in favor of the good ef
fects of close pruning in winter o
spring. Short pruning in summer i
injurious, and will soon kill the vine
Extremities ofshoots containing bunch
es he pinches off in June, but does no
touch the laterals.
Mr. Snider spoke of q method Q
q pruning practised in some quarters, s
as to make the vine itself serve as it
own stake, by repeated shortening i
till it forms stiff, stout stock.
Mr.. Clark further advocated th
stake system, and close planting-5 O
: 6 feet apart, for .he Catawba. Th
Concord would require wider plantin!
rI The stake represents the trunk of
on tree, and the vine, being twisted roun
'' it, gives all the advantages Of horizon
ri tai training on trellis
of Mr.. Fetters concurred in the remark
" of Mr.. Boving. A good quantity OF oil
wood is necessary for health and frui
This is more readily obtained on I'll
trellis than on tho stake; and the tire
is is better, too, as a safe guard again
storms.
81 Mr.. Snider thought that the altituC
of this locality above the level of the 81
V' was more in our favorin growing Il
grape, than any system of training.
l. The regular question-"The Plan
ing and Trimming of small Fruits, wv
~ then taken up.
~ ~ Mr.. Dennis spoke of the currant-
80 has doubled the size of ordinary n
20 by his system of pruning-cuts out
y, W old, rough, messy wood, 30 that Il
,, J. fruit shall be on comparatively ne
T. T. wood, in the third year of its growt
~ ~ People have como to him for cuttin
~ ~ of his bushes as a large variety--m
w dew in the goosberry is prevented
~ ", root pruning. Method-sever all t
y, or roots at proper distance all roun
~ ~ with the spade, and let the plant c
- pend part Of its energies in the form
a., ton of new roots, notsending SO mu
~ Of the sap to the top.
Mr.. Clark recommended the plar
ing of varieties of the Gooseberry tn
TO will not mildew, number of whi
may be found After the bushes ha
obtained a good growth. cut aw