New York Agricultural Experiment Station. 867 



vines of the same age among the different varieties that it is prac- 

 tically impossible to secure a fair estimate as to the relative dam- 

 age of insects or diseases upon either roots or vines. When the 

 earlier experiments proved that this vineyard was not likely to be 

 an unqualified success a similar experiment was started else- 

 where, it is hoped under more favorable conditions. From this 

 second test it is expected that at least some suggestions of value 

 along the line of insect resistance will be secured. 



Some grapes on grafted vines ripened a 

 Some few days earlier than those on their own 



grafted roots. This was true, in particular, as re- 



grapes gards those on Gloire and Clevener ; but it is 



earlier. not certain that there is a constant difference 



in the time of ripening between the same 

 varieties on St. George roots and on their o^vn. In fact, some va- 

 rieties on St. George were retarded in time of maturity. The data 

 relating to time of ripening, however, are not satisfactory, like 

 others in the test; but it is hoped that the second experiment will 

 furnish more definite information. 



Unsatisfactory as it has been, this experi- 

 Conclusions. ment seems to promise quite a little of value 

 in grape-grafting for Xew York State. Un- 

 doubtedly some of the best varieties of table grapes suitable to the 

 Chautauqua Grape Belt can be improved in some respects by graft- 

 ing and it is not entirely improbable that even commercial vine- 

 yards will show a sufficient increase in productiveness to warrant 

 the adoption of the practice in starting new vineyards. If the 

 method is adopted, however, some of the mistakes in this experi- 

 ment should be avoided. In the first place, it would have been 

 much better to use bench-grafted vines instead of grafting in the 

 field on growing stocks, as a very large proportion of the plants 

 thus treated died in this experiment ; and a considerable portion 

 might do so in any commercial planting. Such vacancies must 

 be filled by bench-grafted material. Bench-grafting in itself gives 

 better results, is much more easily performed and can be kept 

 under closer supervision of an expert than can work done in the 



