56 State Horticultural Society. 



Nearly everybody has space to spare in the back yard or garden,, 

 and nothing will so improve these places as a small number of well 

 trained grape vines on an arbor. 



Take, say a dozen vines, one of each variety, plant them in a circle 

 or any way you may wish them, perhaps along a walk. Of course, 

 not all the vines will do well on an arbor, that is, for shade ; yet if 

 some of them do die in after years the others will be strong enough 

 to cover the entire arbor, and you will have .seen how the varieties do. 

 Prof. Whitten said to the Horticulture class in February, 1900: "The 

 Clinton and Neosho are the best vines for an arbor, but they are not 

 productive," and I wish to say Prof. Whitten is right. The Hermann 

 is also a very good vine for an arbor, for shade. Secretary Goodman' 

 said to the same class in January, 1900: "I think the people in the 

 city should plant a few vines ; if they have no other space to spare 

 they could plant next to a wood shed or any other building, and let 

 them grow up." These are wise words from wise men, and people 

 should listen to them. Vines will do very well on a building, but 

 remember that they need cultivation the first few years ; also that they 

 should not stand too close to trees. 



Care of the Vineyard. — In pruning, I prefer the renewal system ; 

 so do all our neighbors in and around Hermann, or say Roark Town- 

 ship, which has probably more vineyards than any other township in 

 Missouri. A one-year-old vineyard should be cut back entirely if not 

 grown very strong; on a two-year-old you may leave one vine two or 

 three feet long, and if it has made a good growth you may leave the 

 vine longer, but not too long, as a young vineyard is easily ruined 

 by overbearing, especially some varieties like the Elvira and Marsala.. 

 The third year you may leave two canes, and, of course, two spurs ; 

 you should always leave as many spurs as canes. In future years you 

 should always remember that the stronger the growth the more and 

 longer canes 3^ou leave, and if the growth gets poorer you have to cut 

 less and shorter canes ; this same rule applies to vines on an arbor^ 

 In a vineyard get the canes as close to the ground as possible, but don't 

 forget that the bearing canes should come out of as young wood as pos- 

 sible, the spurs, of course, are left for this reason to get bearing canes- 

 for the coming year. 



Summer Pruning. — Pinch off one joint beyond the last bunch ; this. 

 should be done before blooming to force them quickly over blooming. 

 Leave only four to six sprouts from below for bearing canes and spurs 

 for the coming year; tear oft' all the rest that may grow out from, 

 below. 



I think it unnecessary to say anything in regard to spraying, as- 



