240 NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



THE VINEYARD. 



While the grapevine is reasonably hardy throughout south- 

 ern Nebraska, yet the aridity of our winters is such that there 

 is a lessened evaporation, and a stronger and more vigorous 

 vine if, in our trying climate, it can receive some winter pro- 

 tection. In case the winters should be very, very dry, there 

 is danger of root killing. In the vineyards belonging to the 

 late ex-Governor Furnas at Brownville, some years ago, ten 

 thousand vines were lost by root killing; this by reason of a 

 severely cold and very dry winter. Therefore, Ave have found 

 it well to ^rim our vineyards each autumn. The fruit next 

 year is formed on the new wood of the present season's 

 growth. The object of pruning is to shorten the new growth, 

 leaving approximately the amount of fruiting wood which 

 the vine can safely carry. It will be found Avise to shorten 

 the laterals to three, four or five buds, depending on the va- 

 rieties and to some extent on the age and vigor of the vine. 

 The buds left on the laterals develop next season's fruit. The 

 main canes are shortened to suitable length, depending also 

 on the age and vigor of the vine. 



After pruning, we cut the vines loose from the trellis, drop 

 them on the ground, put two or three forksful of straw over 

 each vine and over that place sufficient amount of soil to keep 

 the straw from blowing away. 



We would figure the expenditure of three cents per vine as 

 being sufficient for pruning, hauling the straw, covering and 

 protecting the vineyards for winter. 



MULCHING THE SMALL FRUIT PLANTATION. 



Currants, gooseberries, raspberries, and blackberries should 

 be very heavily mulched before winter. Stable litter is usu- 

 allv the most convenient for mulching currants and goose- 

 berries. For many years we have used straAV in the raspberry 

 and blackberry plantations. In these plantations we allow 

 the straw to remain on the rows the entire season, with the 



