Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-30
fee Of membership to 81. Other amendments

fee Of membership to 81. Other amendments
were made. The corresponding Secretary
was requested to exchange documents with
other States, and to Gull from them all that
would be useful for information to the So
| ciety.
The meeting then adjourned.
| AFTERNOON SESSION
| There was public meeting in the after
noon in committee'room, which was full
ly attended. An able and eminently practi-
cal paper was read on the subject OF "Grape
| Culture" by DR.. j. c. Weston of Bangor.
| The subject was arranged into two divisions !;
list, The open culture of native grapes !;
and, %, The culture of foreign grapes in
cold graperies. The speaker showed the
| preparation of the bed, exposure, shelter,
| soil, plant ing, and pruning; the protection of
| the vines and beds, technically called bor-
| ders. A comparison was made between for
eign and native grapes, in regard to hardness
| and quality. Foreign grapes have a more
delicious flavor and are better adapted to
| wine making, but they cannot be successfully
| raised in the open culture of our rigorous
| climate, on account of the liability to disease
| and mildew. They can be ripened only un-
der glass. Hence, the aim in open culture
should be to get those varieties of good quail
ity which mature wood and fruit early. He
showed the proper preparation of the COM
post-the use of such manures as are appro-
pirate to the wants of the vines to enable
them to yield we'll and have a healthy growth
that they may have healthy, firm and well
ripened wood, producing we'll colored and
timely favored grapes. particular account
was given Of the compost necessary to do
"a rpp tho or1x
of the grape vine, to prune SO as to develop
all its parts symmetrically, and to prevent
bearing prematurely, which impairs the vital
ity of the vine, inducing entire barrenness.
The method of pruning was fully explained
in detail. This pruning should be practiced
in summer and autumn. How to do this the
frs t, second and third years of the life of the
vine, was fully explained. After that so
much care need not be exercised, as the vine
has become fully established. Particular de-
tails were given concerning the management
Of borders, and the propagation of vines;
how they become barren and finally die out
altogether. Among the various varieties of
grapes, he had found the Delaware the most
popular and successful 1t had proved the
most desirable as it combines moderate vigor,
hardness and productiveness of vine with
early maturity and superior quality of fruit.
It usually ripens from the 10Th to the 30th of
September. \ grape equal to the Delaware
in all respects, which would mature before
the early frosts of autumn, would be very
valuable for Maine.
The paper next considered the culture of
the foreign grape in cold graperies, giving in
detail the proper manner of preparing the
beds, description of the house and its fur
nishing, for the purposes Of ventilation, the
appropriate treatment in the growing season
and the season of maturatien; the pruning
necessary during the growing season and up
on the ripening of the vines in autumn the
thinning of the fruit in its branches; pruning
Of vines after maturation; and the appropri-
ate covering for beds and borders in the early
winter The kind of compost was described,
most suitable to be used; the most effectual
method of preventing disease or mildew the
planting and cultivation, pruning and mau-
agement the first, second and third years Of
the life of the vine, in spring, autumn and
winter; the proper thinning of branches and
berries best protection Of the vines and Dor
ders during the winter.
The paper gave. in conclusion, some of the
results of following the mode Of culture
ten of means to ends, reflection, Judgment
to assist and cooperate with nature in all
her beniiicent processes, will be rewarded
with the sight of the vines loaded with clus-
tiers of beautiful, golden, rose colored, pur-
pie and black grapes, and their luscious flavor
unsurpassed in the most favored chimes. This
alone will repay all labor and painstakiDg.
The paper was warmly commended by the
members Of the association and others who
heard it.