The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-02-15

MEETING OF THE HORTICULTURAL So
crETY.-The attendance at the meeting
on Saturday was quite large and the
proceedings of much more interesting
character than usual.
TREsPAsS LAW.
Mr.. A. G. Robinson read draft OF
law which he proposed the West Flr
GINA members of this Society should
ask the Legislature to pass, for the pro
lection of those engaged in the cultiva
ton of fruits and vegetables from the
depredations of thieves and vandals
1t provides, as does the present law, fol
the punishment of this class of persons
upon their conviction, and, in addition
authorizes the proprietor or his employ
es to arrest on the spot any trespasseI
and take him before a justice of the
peace for trial.
This last provision has been adopted
by New York and, perhaps, other States,
and is necessary to make the present
law of any efficiency. Without the
power to arrest on the spot, nine ont OF
every ten of the thieves and depredators
escape punishment. A petition to the
Legislature for the passage of this Act
was circulated through the Hall and
numerously signed.
MARKET HOUSE REGULATIONS.
Mr.. Clark, at the instance of num-
Der of gardeners in attendance, offered
the following, which sufficiently ex-
plains itself:
WHEREAS, By an ordinance passed by
the City Council of Wheeling, some
Twelve months ago, stockholders in the
Second Ward Market House of this city,
are compelled to pay extra for the priv
ilege of leaving their wagons stand
within convenient access of their stalls;
by the same ordinance stall holders arc
required to remove their wagons to some
other place, but the Council failed
to furnish any other place where the
wagons might stand and be less in the
way of the public. Others who pay no
stall rent, and who thus contribute very
little toward the Market House reve-
nues, are permitted to back their wagons
up so that the Stockholders are prev emit
ed from reaping the just benefits of their
stalls; Therefore
Resolred, That the present Council
would but render justice to those who
furnish our citizens with their fruits,
vegetables, &c, and, at the same time,
confer benefit upon our citizens gen
orally, by repeating the clause of the
ordinance above referred to.
HAND AND PLow CULTURE OF THE
GRAPE.
Two grape vines with their roots at
tached, were presented from the vine
yard of Robert Hutchinson, near Bellair.
One was exhibited as a specimen of
hand culture, tho other, of culture by
the pillow. The one that had been plow-
ed near had all its surface roots torn off,
and, consequently, had pushed its re-
naming roots far into the grouhd. These
roots were covered with a mildew. This
vine always bore full crops, but never
ripened its fruit.
Capt. Crawford being called upon to
open the discussion, said that the ques-
ton was simply that of root pruning
a ouestion that had been discussed with
much vigor wherever grape growing
was carried on. II, consequently, in
volved the question of deep and shall
low planting. Deep planting and root
pruning had much the same effect, viz
To drive the roots of the vine down in
to the subsol. In Europe, these prac-
tees were unsuccessful; but here the
soil and climate are different. Different
culture is, consequently, required. II
all our vineyards were thoroughly un
derdrained, so that the soil would be as
dry and warm one or two feet down as
at the surface, perhaps the difference
might not be so great.
In our soils, as at present cultivated ,
the surface roots are those that furnish
the nourishment to the vine; cut these
away and you not only cut of the susie.
nance of the vine but you produce an
irritation which is productive of disease.
Every rear new fibres are thrown out
by the vine near the surface of the
ground; these are the feeders, and to
make a flourishing vine these must be
fed. Hence the necessity of planting
the vines further apart than has here
tofors been the custom.
Mr.. Helm did not believe the cutting
off of the roots prevented the grapes
from ripening. The fault had been in
allowing the vine to oTerbear the first
or second season. Neither did the mil
dew on the roots affect the maturing OF
the fruit. He could show plenty of
vines with roots as white as these, upon
which a rotten grape never was seen.
He works with the pillow to the depth OF
about three inches. He thought the
mildew shown on the vine presented
was attributable to the soil on which it
grew. His soil was clayey loam-no
gravel.
Rev. Kieush agreed with the theory
of Mr.. Helm. His experience and OF
seryations had led him to the same con-
illusions.
Mr.. Rice had had considerable expert
ence with the kind Of root under dis
cussion. He had torn of hundreds OF
as large roots as had been cut from this
one. without any bad result. But be
fed his vines with fertilizers and good
culture. He had used salt and COW ma
nure with good effect. In gravelly soils
the vine must be fed, or after two OF
three years it will fail
Mr.. Turner plowed his vines once oil
twice year; often tore of large roots
and when he did he usually turned
around and cut branches from the vine