206 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



Hartford, and a great many more. But the most important and valuable 

 seedling that was ever produced in the United States was grown by a 

 gentleman in Massachusetts, whose name I cannot now remember, and 

 who died not very long ago. It is the Concord, and its kinds which we 

 have to rely on here in the Willamette valley, although in some places, 

 as at Forest Grove, foreign kinds seem to do well. But the question is, 

 which are the best and most profitable in the market. Our Concord, 

 Worden, and Niagara, the first two bluish black, and the last named 

 greenish white. Other kinds may have some very good points, but are 

 not so reliable and profitable as the three named above. I say the main 

 secret of growing good grapes lies in the pruning. This I will explain 

 further on. 



HOW TO MAKE A VINEYARD. 



In planting a vineyard we first select a suitable place. This should not 

 be too low nor too wet, where cold nights can do damage. The most suit- 

 able place for grapes are our hills, and the western and southern slopes 

 thereof. Soil that produces wheat or potatoes is rich enough for grapes. 

 After the land is well plowed and harrowed thoroughly, rows are marked 

 off, seven or eight feet apart, to suit. Then good four-foot stakes are 

 put in eight or more feet apart, as one wishes to plant his vines. I 

 always recommend the vines to be planted seven by eight feet. This 

 will require about seven hundred and fifty plants to the acre. The best 

 time to plant is April or the first part of May. Dig the holes about 

 three feet in diameter and one and one-half to two feet deep. Then fill 

 up partly again with surface soil, and from a little hill in the center, 

 around which the roots are spread when planting, and then fill up with 

 surface soil. Then the stake is put back again near to the plant. Healthy 

 well rooted one-year-old plants are preferred by most grapegrowers. 

 During the first summer the young vines are well cultivated and kept clean 

 of weeds, and when necessary are tied to the stakes. Something that 

 does not interfere with the young plants may be grown between the 

 rows. The second spring the young vines are cut back to two or three 

 buds. In summer the young shoots are tied to the stakes. Good culti- 

 vation as in first year. Early in third spring wires are drawn for trellis. 

 Two wires are enough, one about two feet above the ground, the other 

 about two feet above this. The wires are fastened to strong posts set 

 firmly in the ground and well braced. In the rows the wires are held 

 up by strong seven-foot stakes. These are pointed on one end and firmly 

 driven into the ground between every second vine, so there will always 

 be two vines between. In pruning only one cane, the strongest, is left 

 and cut back to about six or eight buds and tie to the lower wire. All 

 the rest is cut away smoothly. This will secure a good, straight stem. 

 In summer the young shoots will grow up and fasten themselves with 

 their tendrils to the upper wire. There may be some bunches of grapes 

 this year, but unless the vines are very, strong the fruit should be pinched 

 off. All shoots that ajppear within one and one-half feet above the 



