102 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



FROST INJURY TO GRAPES, 1916. 



The careful observations of Mr. J. -J. Fox, County Horticultural 

 Commissioner, Napa, Cal., upon grapevines following the freeze of 

 1916, are worthy of special note, as some conclusions relating to the 

 pruning of frozen vines were reached. 



Mr. Fox states that "On May 7, 1916, Napa and Sonoma counties 

 were visited by a disastrous freeze which wrought havoc in the 

 vineyards. 



"It was an exceedingly promising .year, with the heaviest set of fruit 

 on the vines within the memory of the oldest grower, together with a 

 good thrifty growth of cane. In the 7-foot vineyards the vines were 

 meeting. The thermometer registered from 22° to 26° F. on above date. 



"After the freeze a great difference of opinion existed among old 

 growers as to what to do with the vines. They faced a problem such as 

 had not been presented since 1885 — such a heavy frost at such an 

 advanced stage." 



Notes taken in many places under observation throughout the year 

 led Mr. Fox to come to the following conclusions: 



(1) "It costs less to sucker after frost injury than to prune the 

 following winter, resulting in better wood and increased vigor to the 

 vine. 



(2) "Vines cut and suckered after a freeze have better wood and are 

 in better shape for a crop the next year than those not treated in this 

 manner, although they produced in some instances, less grapes than 

 where left untreated. The grapes were, however, of better quality and 

 matured much earlier. Many second crop grapes did not exceed 

 14 per cent sugar this year, while those from dormant bud growth 

 were generally normal. 



(3) "Either cut frosted vines back to dormant buds or leave alone 

 according to the extent of injury. If cut, follow later with suckering 

 of body and head." 



