WINTER MEETING. 193 



lands will produce larger bunches and larger berries, thereby insuring 

 a heavier and more profitable crop. Distance of planting is also im- 

 portant ; 7 to 8 feet should be the minimum distance ; but 8 to 9 where 

 land is not too scarce will tell in the size of the fruit. 



Winter or spring pruning should be done so as not to cause over- 

 bearing. The third year after planting should be the first bearing year, 

 and two canes four feet long is enough bearing wood for the first crop, 

 and three good canes, four feet long, is enough for any subsequent 

 crop. Then summer pruning is important. By it we get our bearing 

 wood for the next crop just where we want it, and by it also we can 

 form a fine canopy of shade, under which the clusters will acquire a 

 heavy bloom, which is so very desirable, especially in black grapes. 

 Tying up should be done before the buds start much, as the strange 

 eyes start first and are easily rubbed off; the tying material should be 

 strong so no breaking down by heavy winds or weight of fruit is pos- 

 sible. 



Cultivation should begin as soon as tying up is done, and the 

 ground kept in mellow condition. During a rainy season, however, 

 it is best not to cultivate much, so that the water will run off rather 

 than to soak into the loose plowed sod, thereby preventing rot and 

 mildew. Then as soon as the rainy season is over, cultivate before 

 the ground gets too hard, and should be kept up till ripening. 



VARIETIES. 



But few varieties are needed for profit, and should be most of 

 them black. The first to ripen of the black is the Champion ; it ripens 

 even and close together, so it can be worked off before the later and 

 much better Moore's Early comes on. Next comes the Worden, the 

 best of black sorts in quantity and size; then comes the Concord, of 

 which the greater portion of the vineyard should be planted. Were 

 it not for eastern crops being shipped in on us and sold for less money 

 than we can afford to raise grapes for, we might cultivate several 

 varieties later than Concord. Of these I would mention, Wilder for 

 black and Goeth for red ; also, Pocklington for white or yellow. For 

 money alone I would not increase the above list, neither would I plant 

 a single white sort for market. 



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