ANNUAL MEETING AT NEVADA. 289 



planting vines 12x12 feet apart they will be planted 6x12 feet, one-half 

 the vines in each will be allowed to bear fruit, the other half only be al- 

 lowed to raise young canes for next year's bearing wood, alternating each 

 year. I believe by some such a system finer fruit could be obtained, 

 than by the usual process now pursued. In raising grapes for wine, I 

 take it that it is not so important that we should have extra perfection 

 either in bunch or berry. But in raising grapes, or for that matter any- 

 thing else for market, quality, not quantity, is the important considera-' 

 tion. Vines should not be allowed to bear fruit the second season, at 

 least not more than a bunch or so on the strongest vines. The young 

 vines of the first year's growth should be cut back to two buds, vines 

 should be trimmed not later than February, because of bleeding as soon 

 as sap starts in the spring. 



The canes of the second year's growth should be pinched off when 

 reaching a height of six feet, throwing the growth into laterals. It is 

 on these laterals you may look for fruit another year, but it will be found 

 advisable to cut them back two or three buds each. The third year you 

 may expect a crop of fruit. Care should be taken not to let the 

 young vines overbear; would advise leaving more bearing wood than 

 was necessary to yield the amount of fruit desired, but would cull out all 

 small and defective bunches, and leave no more than the vine was able 

 to ripen perfectly. A strong, three-year-old vine will yield ten pounds 

 of grapes, and thirty bunches of Concord should weigh ten pounds on 

 an average. The first crop may be grown on stakes, but after that it 

 will be found advisable to use trellis. Three wires will make a satisfac- 

 tory trellis; the top wire should be six feet from the ground. The rows 

 .should run north and south, so that the sun can get at both sides of the 

 trellis. 



IN PICKING AND HANDLING 



grapes for the market too much care cannot be taken; care should be taken 

 not to mar the bloom on the grape, its greatest beauty. In sorting, all 

 unripe, cracked or otherwise defective berries should be removed. Mark 

 your name on the package plainly, and don't put anything inside you 

 are ashamed of. As a rule it don't pay to ship fruit that the grower is 

 not proud to acknowledge as his own. That old adage that honesty is 

 the best policy, is particularly true in the fruit business; in fact it is the 

 only policy to tie to. 



II. R, — 19. 



