NOTES ON GRAPE VINE CULTURE. 



By W. J. Thompson, F.R.H.S. Travelling Instructor and Superin- 

 tendent Parade Garden. 



On account of the unusual rains grape vines have made more 

 growth than is good for them. To counteract the late excessive 

 growth, people who possess only one vine, and wish it to give a good 

 crop of fruit this year, should see that it is kept as dry as possible 

 till about the middle of January, and also that it gets as much 

 sunlight and air as can be given it. The reason for this is, that 

 the past season's main growth of the vine may become quite ripe ; 

 for it is the good ripe wood of the grape vine that determines the 

 amount of fruit, and not the pruning. If the wood is thick, enough 

 and ripe, fruit will come in the spring, even if the pruning is not 

 of the best description. 



The above applies to vines that were not pruned late last year. 

 Vines that have been ill-used by being pruned twice in the year 

 should not be pruned again till late in the spring. 



Grape vines should only get one general pruning each year, 

 more than this is injurious to them. 



People who have several vines with quite ripe wood, should have 

 begun to prune in December and should prune one or two vines 

 every fortnight so as to get a succession of fruit. With enough 

 vines and proper treatment, grapes can be had most of the year 

 through. 



From the time water is withheld from the vines, so as to ripen 

 the wood, it should not be again given to the roots until about a 

 week after the plants have been pruned, then the vines should be 

 given an abundant supply of water so as to start them into growth. 

 When the young growths are a few inches long, the vines should 

 receive a supply of water at the roots like the other plants in the 

 garden. It must be distinctly understood that while old vines will 

 stand any amount of water at their roots, great care has to be 

 taken in watering newly planted young vines, as they will die from 

 being over-watered. When the fruit is beginning to ripen, water 

 should be withheld from the roots. After the fruit is gathered, 

 and if a second small crop should be coming on the 

 lateral growths, the usual supply of water can be given. But care 

 must be taken to see that the vines are not kept growing and fruit- 

 ing for too many months in the year. 



If a vine is restricted so as to have only one crop of fruit each 

 year, it would be better for it and better for the owner. 



When the vine has been pruned and started into growth care 

 should be taken to see that as soon as the young growths are 

 about four to six inches long that too many are not allowed 

 to remain on the vine. This can be remedied by rubbing off 

 the smallest growths with the thumb and fingers, and only allow- 

 ing one good growth to grow from one section of the vine instead 

 of three or four weak ones. 



