REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST 103 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



favourable for pollination, the result being that there was only about half a crop on 

 most varieties. The season was favourable for the maturing of the fruit, and 115 

 varieties ripened, although some of them were late in doing so, as the weather was 

 not warm enough for rapid ripening. The vines were thoroughly sprayed with Bor- 

 deaux mixture during the growing season, and there was little disease of any kind. 



The system of pruning and training now adopted is thought to be one of the 

 most satisfactory where grapes are grown for dessert purposes and for home use, 

 where the vines have to be protected. The system is a modification of that known 

 as the High Renewal. 



When a young vine is planted in the spring it is cut back to near the ground and 

 after making the season's growth it is again cut back to one stem about 18 inches 

 from the ground. Two canes only are allowed to grow during the second season, and 

 when long enough these should be tied to the lowest wire, which should be from 18 

 inches to 24 inches above the ground. In the autumn the canes are bent down and 

 covered with soil to protect the vine during the winter, the main stem also being 

 covered. In the spring the canes or arms are spread out in opposite directions and 

 tied along the lower wire, and three new wires should now be added 18 inches apart. 

 This year being the third, there will be canes grow upwards from the buds along the 

 outstretched arms, and a little fruit may set. During the growing season, laterals 

 or side shoots should be pinched out. In the autumn of the third year the canes 

 which have grown upright should be cut back to near the arms, leaving only one bud 

 on each, in addition to the bud at its base, on the arm. The arms should, at the 

 same time, be cut back until there are from 40 to 50 buds left in all, from which 

 fruiting wood will grow during the fourth year. In the High Renewal system, pro- 

 vision is made for the replacing of the arms every year by new ones, by leaving two 

 additional stubs on the main stem from which new canes grow and which replace the 

 two arms. In this system the arms are never more than one year old. The system 

 adopted at the Experimental Farm is between this and the horizontal arm system, 

 where the arms are left for a number of years. It is found that if the arms are left 

 permanently they will get stiff and are difficult to bend down and cover with soil, 

 and in the High Renewal system there is danger of breaking one year old canes, and 

 also danger from winter killing, in either of which cases the crop would be lost. Bet- 

 ter results can be obtained by having the arms at least two years old, but not more 

 than four, and they may be renewed in alternate years. The amount of wood left oq 

 the vines must be regulated by the earliness, productiveness and vigour of the variety. 

 In most cases, 40 to 50 buds are sufficient to leave ; as a medium crop of well-grown, 

 well-ripened grapes is better than a large crop of inferior fruit. By having the crop 

 as near the ground as possible without the fruit being injured by the soil, the grapes 

 will ripen better than if higher up, on account of the reflection of heat from the 

 ground. When the vines are in full bearing, as they are in the fourth year, consid- 

 erable pruning is necessary during the growing season. The vines are uncovered as 

 soon as there is no further danger of severe frost and before the buds have swollen, 

 about May 7 being the average time. The arms are then tied to the lower wire. In 

 about a month afterwards it will be necessary to go through and tie the young shoots 

 to the second wire and to pinch out unnecessary shoots, such as suckers and laterals. 

 In about a week more they should be tied again and the laterals and suckers removed. 

 Another pruning is necessary after the vines have grown above the top wire, when they 

 are pinched back to that wire, and any other unnecessary shoots pinched out as before. 



In the report of the Horticulturist for 1900, a list was published of the twenty- 

 five earliest varieties which had fruited here, with descriptions and notes as to quality 

 and dates of ripening, as the early varieties are the most useful in the colder parts of 

 Canada. New kinds are continually being tested, in order to find out whether there 

 are any others which are as early, and also to test their quality and productiveness. 

 A large number of varieties recently planted were originated by T. V. Munson, of 

 Texas, from whom they were procured. 



