312 State Horticultural Society. 



5. Trellis. Posts and wire seem to be the most practical way of 

 training grapes on in this section. From four to five vines between 

 posts. Two wires are sufficient, distance from ground to first wire 26 

 inches from first to second wire 19 inches, j^o. 10 to 13 galvanized 

 wire is the most practical, the heaviest wire being more expensive at 

 the start, but cheaper in the long run. 



6. Training and pruning. The first year after planting the 

 young vines can be allowed to lay on the ground at will. With the 

 first pruning we will start to train the vine. If the one stem system 

 is desired leave the strongest cane about eighteen inches long, cutting 

 all other sprouts off. Posts and one wire ought to be put in to support 

 the second year's growth. Leave the three end sprouts grow so as to 

 give you one cane for the top wire and two arms for the bottom wire. 

 As practically all the wood for the third year is bearing wood, care 

 must be taken not to let them overbear, do not expect more than a half 

 crop. At the third pruning leave two canes on lower and two canes 

 on upper wire, leaving six to eight eyes on a cane. In order to main- 

 tain that shape of vine it would be necessary to renew it, that is to 

 leave a stub or spur l)ack of each cane. A stub has three or four eyes 

 and will bring the wood liack to the old stock. After a vineyard is in 

 such a form trimming is very easy, cutting off the branch or cane of 

 the year before close to stub. Leave last sprout on the stub as cane 

 for bearing and cut another stub nearer the stock. The nature of the 

 growth in grapes will give you chance to prune year after year in this 

 style with very few exceptions. 



Another way of pruning is to trim back to two or three eyes. 

 Let two sprouts grow the second year cut them long enough to reach 

 the lower wire and let them bear the third summer. After that year 

 add one or two canes which will give the vine a fan shape. The vine 

 can be renewed same as the other with stubs at the lower wire. I pre- 

 fer to have no foliage nearer tlie ground than eighteen inches, thus 

 giving the wind a good chance to circulate wliieli will keep the vines 

 and fruit much healtliier. Summer trimming ic; not very advisable 

 here on account of hot midsummer causing fruit to be scalded if not 

 sufficiently })rotected by foliage. I believe in heading or pinching off 



