370 State Horticultural Society. 



a rank growth of vine is expected the first year, let only two canes grow; 

 if soil is poor, and a feeble growth expected let only one cane grow. 

 Supply each vine with a stake seven feet tall. As soon as the vine starts 

 climbing tie it to the stake, rubbing off all side shoots or laterals, tie up 

 and prune after. Keep the vine climbing straight up the pole and allow 

 no gro^vtll wasted in surplus laterals. Cultivation should commence early 

 and be thorough. A single section of a fifty-tooth steel frame harrow, 

 using one horse, is a very convenient and suitable outfit with which to 

 keep the surface in good condition and surplus vegetation in check. Some 

 hoeing may have to be done to destroy such strong-rooted weeds that the 

 harrow will not tear up. Some weeding in the hill will also be necessary. 



About the middle of June, if you like, plant the ground to cow peas, 

 the Whippoorwill being my favorite, on account of its bunchy habit of 

 growth. Keep the harrow going just the same, at least once a week 

 through the rows both ways. There is a short period of time, all pea- 

 growers know, that will not do to harrow them, and this is from the time 

 they first come up until the third leaf appears. When the vines get too 

 rank for the harrow it is time to stop cultivation. "When the peas ripen 

 they can be hand picked and saved for seed. The vines can be left on 

 the ground and serve a splendid purpose as mulch to prevent the winter 

 rains from robbing the surface soil of the fertility brought there by the 

 peas and the thorough cultivation. 



The grape vines can go into winter just as they are. I had rather 

 prune as soon in the early part of mnter as practicable ; say as soon as the 

 wood is fully ripe. This pruning is simply cutting the canes back to 

 within two feet of the ground. 



The Second Season. — "Whether a trellis should be put up now or let 

 the vines run on the stakes depends on the richness of the soil and the 

 growth the vines are likely to make. Be that as it may, they will only 

 yield from about ten to thirty bunches of grapes near the ground. If 

 left on the stakes, cultivation can be more thorou_gh, as we can go both 

 ways again. 



I favor the stake plan for this year, letting from four to six canes 

 grow, pruning and tying up as before. Rag strings will serve for tying; 

 they are soft and do not cut the canes. The curl of the vines will soon 

 catch and help support them. I have Concord vines now at this stage, 



