132 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



keepers. Especial attention was called to Diana. Though unfit to eat 

 when first ripe, if kept till this time the foxy taste disappears and the 

 quality becomes good. Jefferson is one of the very finest of grapes in 

 quality, is productive, and is a first-rate keeper. 



MANY VIEWS OF METHODS OF TRAINING. 



Mr. Balch: I have largely used the fan system of pruning, but it is 

 not wholly satisfactory. Latterly I have used the Kniffin system. I train 

 one vine straight to the top wire, carrying one arm each way, but renew 

 the arms annually, or nearly so. I prune down to forty buds to each vine, 

 and get as much fruit as does anybody. I find 12x12 feet the best distance 

 for setting grapes, though many here set 8x8 or 8x10. A given amount of 

 ground will grow only about so many grapes, no matter on how many vines 

 they are placed. The loss of product from wide planting occurs only while 

 the vines are young. The same number of buds on spurs of the main vine 

 will produce more fruit than on laterals, which seem to break down in 

 strength. It is hard to get good fruit on the lower wire, especially in 

 damp seasons. I have tried having two vines instead of one, one being on 

 each wire, and had better results, the division of sap occurring in the roots. 



Mr. Morrill said he had seen and heard of the use of tins here to keep 

 off the cutworm. He had used wisps of wool to better purpose, at less cost 

 and labor. The wool will not pack about the branch, but remain loose so 

 that the worms can not crawl over it. 



Mr. Bates: Can the vines be gotten to the trellises without staking? 



Mr. Balch : Some of our growers stake the vines for the first two 

 years, but others leave them on the ground the same time and then put 

 them to the wires direct. 



Mr. A. H. Smith: When I prune as Mr. Chidester recommends, I 

 find the new growth mostly at the ends of the canes, especially in the 

 case of the Niagara. It is difficult to keep up a supply of wood further 

 back. 



Mr. Chidester: Not if the vines are not allowed to grow more than 

 eight feet. 



Mr. Smith: That requires summer pruning? 



Mr. Chidester: Yes, sometimes. 



Mr. Stearns: I have had the same difficulty Mr. Smith complains of. 

 Has the renewal system been practiced here — going back to near the 

 ground for new canes every other year? 



Mr. Chidester: I have practiced this for twelve or fourteen years, 

 and never have seen anything equal to it. 



