Winter Meeting. 275 



I find them regardless of the form after pruning-, which should be 

 fan-like as much as possible. Allojv me another remark about prun- 

 ing the grapevine. Whatever method or system or style you may 

 give individual preference matters not ; in profitable vineyarding on 

 a moderate or extensive sckle I have found that from the many 

 methods advocated the so-called fan-shape renewing process and 

 form is the simplest and best — vines tied to a trellis of posts with 

 three wires not finer than No. lo or No. 8. I'or summer pruning I 

 pinch the top of the young bearing shoots before blooming, one leaf- 

 bud above the last grape bunch when the shoots are aboiit one foot 

 long, using the fingers only, and not a knife or shears, which are in- 

 jurious to the vine. After blooming I pinch the secondary shoots 

 to about two or three leaf-buds, but do no,t break them out altogether, 

 as manv vinevardists do, and I believe to their loss. The juice of this 

 second growth is needed to bring the fruit to perfection ; also the 

 grape will ripen properly only in the shade of it leaves ; therefore, too 

 much pinching is more, harmful than benficial ;. experience will teach 

 us to walk the middle of the road in pruning the grapevine. 



Sixth and Last — In marketing grapes profitably we should avoid 



all commission men and express companies, except we are willing to 



throw just one-half or more of our so hard earned profits away. I 



beg you, if you are not able to dispose of your grapes by yourselves 



direct to the consumer, or to the dealer who is a cash buyer, or by 



freight in car-load lots, then quit growing grapes to fatten express 



companies and commission men, and helping to spoil and diminish 



the profits of those vinevardists who avoid them. I know what I am 



saying and onl}^ the manifold bitter experiences compel me to make 



this expression without being able to go into detail and to go beyond 



the limit of courtesy towards fellowmen. Always sell the best grapes 



only, pack them well and attractively, then ask a fair price and hold on 



to it, be polite, but firm, and your grape growing will be profitable; 



of course, in some years more than in others, but the final result will 



be a bank account in your favor. What I have done many others 



are doing or can do ; the grapevine always rewarded my care and 



labors, while other fruits were sometimes a total failure; profitable 



vineyarding has carried me over many difTiculties ; the grape was, is 



and will be ni}^ choicest fruit to grow as long as I am able to work. 



From the culls and latest remnants of the grape crop make a pure, 



healthy, unadulterated wine, or a sweet grapT juice if you choose, either 



for home use or for your friends, and as soon as the public knows 



that you have the pure, clear and healthy product of the grape, it is glad 



to buv it from you, and willing to pay a good price for it. But wine- 



