PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL MEETING. 133 



A member: All this will do if the vines are sixteen feet apart. What 

 if they are 8x8? 



Mr. Chidester: Take out every other one. That is just what I had to 

 do. I have little liking for the Rogers hybrids. There are very few 

 localities where they can be successfully grown. 



Mr. Engle : I have always practiced the renewal system, growing my 

 grapes wholly on stakes. 



Mr. Stearns: How about quality by that process? 



Mr. Engle : Lite other people, I think my grapes are the very best. 

 At any rate, I have been able to take more than my share of premiums. 

 As to quantity, however, doubtless I get the less. 



Mr. Stearns urged the importance of producing fruit of the very best 

 quality of its kind. We must have it if we expect to sell the product of 

 our orchards and vineyards. An unpruned vine may bear much fruit, 

 but it is sure to be of inferior quality and much later than the same 

 variety in proper culture. 



Mr. Lawton : The renewal system as practiced by Mr. Engle is differ- 

 ent from that of some others. It used to be usual to renew from the 

 ground annually, but now this is done at the first wire. The main crop 

 here is from the upper wire, the lower one being used chiefly for the pro- 

 duction of new wood. We have vineyards which have been pruned on 

 the spur system for twenty-five years, but they do not produce so much 

 fruit as do those on the renewal system. Mr. Chidester's vines are now 

 new, but as they grow old there will be no growth except at the ends, and 

 that will not afford enough wood for a crop. Those using this system 

 here have to keep the arms very short. 



Mr. Chidester: I have vines pruned on this system, which are twelve 

 to fourteen years old, and I will pay the fare of any one going to see them 

 and being dissatisfied with their appearance. 



Mr. Tracy: I nave seen in New Jersy a good system of training. The 

 trellis is made of posts and slats, the latter fastened diagonally from one 

 post to the other, making a diamond shape with the post in the center of 

 the diamond. Vines are set eight feet apart in the row, the rows twelve 

 or sixteen feet apart. Each season two canes are renewed from the root 

 and trained upon the post. The next season these are separated and laid 

 to left and right upon the slats. They are cut away the next year and two 

 new canes laid in their places: 



Mr. Stearns: I renew, using three or four canes from near the ground. 



