PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 129 



need not be repeated here. I have never had occasion to spray my vines, 

 consequently can not speak from experience. 



The concluding paper of the series was the following, by Mr. W. F. 

 Bird of Ann Arbor: 



The secretary, in putting me down for a paper on grape-growing, has 

 kindly furnished some points that are of so much importance that I shall 

 in the main confine myself to them. 



Permit me, however, at the outset, to say that, although we live under 

 the shadow of the institution that entitles our city to be called the "Athens 

 of the west," we have not yet learned all there is to be known about this 

 important subject. This may also serve as an apology for appearing before 

 this enlightened body of grape-growers. 



The catalogues tell us that any one can grow grapes, that it is as easy as 

 growing corn, and any corn land will do for grapes, etc. 



Perhaps so, if we admit that only about one in ten has ever learned to 

 grow corn successfully. 



HIS IDEA OF LOCATION. 



As to a choice of soil for grapes, our views have had to change somewhat 

 within a few years past. It was thought by many that a sandy or gravelly 

 soil was the first choice, and clay the last. The rainless summers of the 

 past few years have reversed all this, and clay now stands at the head. The 

 ideal soil is a sandy loam with a clay subsoil. The next best is clay all 

 the way down. Of course, it must be rolling or well drained. 



One of my neighbors who has been very successful with grapes on 

 gravelly slopes, lost a large share of his crop last year and the year before 

 by drouth. This explodes the notion that it can not be too dry for grapes. 

 And we may add that on the above soil no amount of cultivating or other 

 coddling will take the place of the dews of heaven. 



TRELLISING AND PRUNING. 



But to come to the points indicated — 



(1) " The preferable method of trellising, pruning, and training grapes 

 for profit, in a commercial vineyard, and how varied and modified where 

 winter protection is deemed necessary." 



There are trellises many, from the broad earth, over which some allow 

 their vines to crawl, to the tree tops, which they are often permitted to 

 climb. But there is no profit in these extremes. There are only two forms 

 that I would use. These combine the most common-sense and economy, 

 and also produce the best results. The first is the Knifiin trellis, consist- 

 ing of posts about five feet high supporting two wires about three and five 

 feet from the ground. 



The training and pruning on this trellis are simplicity itself. One cane 

 is allowed to grow to the top wire; two arms are trained each way on the 

 two wires, making four arms. All other growth on the upright cane is 

 generally removed as it starts. Exceptions to this will occur when the 

 arms fail to throw out shoots near the upright. In pruning, everything is 

 17 



