State Agricultural Society. 321 



the succeeding night, while those higher up are exposed to the greater 

 extremes of the atmosphere. Hence, grapes near the ground or on low 

 ti'ained vines are found to ripen in the same vineyard in this State from 

 ten days to two weeks earlier than the same varieties trained over trel- 

 lises. It is also found that the former arc fairer, larger, and more highly 

 flavored than the latter. 



Some claim that the mildew is not so apt to affect the grape grown on 

 high trained vines, where the atmosphere circulates freely, as on those 

 close to the ground. We think reason and experience are both in favor 

 of the opposite opinion. Mildew on a growing plant is not induced by 

 the same causes as mildew on dead and decaying matter. The extremes 

 of heat and cold during the natural flow of the sap is believed to be one 

 of the chief causes of mildew in the grapevine. As these extremes are 

 greater at a distance above the ground, so the inducing causes of mildew 

 are proportionately greater, and we find experience agrees with reason 

 on the subject. 



We think that the time of pruning has more to do with mildew on the 

 grape than the manner, as we shall show hereafter. In accordance with 

 the general experience of the best cultivators, we would recommend that 

 vines be so trained and pruned as to form the head from one to two feet 

 above the ground. The use of stakes may thus be entirely dispensed 

 with, and quite an expense saved. 



TIME OF PRUNING. 



When the object is to induce a rapid growth of wood, as in young 

 vines before they are of proper age to fruit, the pruning should be done 

 in the Fall or fore part of Winter. If, however, it is desired to produce 

 less wood and more fruit, the time of pruning should be delayed until 

 later in the season. The time should also be governed by the soil to 

 some extent. On elevated land and a dry soil, where the vine naturally 

 forms but little wood and is inclined to bear too much fruit, pruning 

 should be done early in the Fall after the leaves have fallen. Then 

 when the sap starts in the Spring it will swell the buds with force, and 

 send out strong canes and less fruit spurs. 



On the contrary, vines growing on rich, alluvial soil, where too much 

 wood and too little fruit is the natural rule, this tendency may be 

 checked to a great extent by delaying the annual pruning until late in 

 the Spring — even so late that the leaves on the canes are forming. By 

 cutting back the canes of the past Summer's growth at this time, leav- 

 ing but two or three buds near the base, these buds would then swell 

 evenly and develop strong fruit spurs, and, as a general thing, the result 

 would be a good quantity of well developed fruit stems and blossoms. 



A FACT IMPORTANT IF GENERAL. 



Here we would mention a fact which has come within our observation 

 and experience, which, if generally true, is of some importance. It is 

 this: that the third fruit bud from the base of the past year's cane 

 throws out larger and better developed bunches of grapes than either 

 the first or second. The grapes from these buds seem also better 

 flavored, and generally superior to those on the first and second. In 

 accordance with this hint we have adopted the plan of cutting the cane 



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