358 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



exceeded a week. The quality oi the ^'rapes has been about the same on all the 

 different trellises. The fruit was more subject to sunburn on the Kniffen 2-wire, 

 4-cane trellis than on any other. This was controlled by training the new growth 

 over the bunches. The greatest amount of injury from birds occurred on the Kniffen 

 2-wire, 4-cane trellis and the Kniffen overhead telegraph trellis. The least injury 

 from this source occurred on the umbrella and fan systems. The fan system is con- 

 sidered the most satisfactory for varieties that are not perfectly hardy, since the 

 young canes can be readily laid down for winter protection. The high-renewal 

 forms are thought preferable to the low-renewal fan systems for localities where 

 fungus diseases are prevalent. On the whole, the trellis for the fan system of train- 

 ing is considered the simplest and cheapest in construction and is commended to 

 Kansas growers. 



Experiments in bagging the bunches of fruit with manila paper bags as a protec- 

 tion from the birds have shown results that justify this practice, especially when the 

 grapes are grown for a fancy market or the home table. The cost for this work is 

 about 1 ct. per pound of fruit. The lengthe^vlng of the season of fresh grapes by bag- 

 ging was determineil with a number of varieties to be as follows, expressed in days: 

 Agawam, 2; Brighton, 15; Catawba, 0; Concord, 14; Delaware, 40; Diamond, 8; 

 Eldorado, 28; and ]\Ioore Early, 20. With most varieties bagging improved the condi- 

 tion of the bunches, though in a few instances the varieties were not quite so highly 

 colored and the flavor was not always up to the standard of the variety. The differ- 

 ence, however, in the color and flavor was so slight as not to injure the market value 

 of the fruit. 



A record is given of the injury sustained liy the different A^arieties of grapes at the 

 station during the winter of 1898-99, and of their subsequent growth. Tender grapes 

 are trained according to the fan system and laid down and covered in winter. 



Nitrate of soda in the culture of grapes, G. Chappaz {Prog. Agr. et Vh. {Ed. 

 VEnt), 28 (1903), No. ,?„', pp. 628-032). — On a clay-lime soil, very stony and rich in 

 potash, the effect of nitrate of soda on the yield of grapes and quality of wine pro- 

 duced was studied. Commercial fertilizers had never been used in the vineyard 

 before and no manures had been applied for a long time. The control plat on which 

 no fertilizers was used yielded 5,550 kg. per hectare, the wine from which analyzed 

 12.8° alcohol. The plat receiving nitrate of soda at the rate of 400 kg. per hectare 

 yielded 8,510 kg. of grapes per hectare, the wine from which analyzed 12.6° alcohol. 

 Superphosphate at the rate of 500 kg. per hectare was applied with the nitrate of 

 soda, l)ut when this same amount was used in connection with .300 kg. of sulphate 

 of ammonia per hectare no increase in yield over the control plat was obtained. The 

 important fact in the experiment is the increase of 2,960 kg. of grapes per hectare by 

 the use of nitrate of soda without any material decrease in the quality of the wine 

 produced. 



Report of the viticultural expert, M. Blunno {Agr. Gaz. Neio South Wales, 

 13 {1902), X(i. .5, pp. 528-537). — This is a report of the viticultural expert for New 

 South AVales. He notes that native white wines of the hock and muscat types have 

 been produced rivaling those of European origin. Port and sherry wines, however, 

 do not come up to the standard of the Portuguese and Spanish brands. A list of the 

 phylloxera-resistant stocks grown at the Viticultural Station at Howlong is included 

 in the report. 



The home vineyard, with special reference to northern conditions, W. H. 

 Ragan ( U. S. BejA. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 156, pp. 24, figs. 15). — Popular directions are 

 given in this bulletin for the jilanting and subsequent care of a small vineyard such 

 as is likely to be desired by farmers for home use. Some of the best varieties for 

 Northern planting are Concord, Worden, Moore, and Niagara. 



Budding the black walnut {Pacific Coast Fruit World, 13 {1902), No. 12, p. 6) .— 

 It is stated that the California black walnut has been successfullv budded with 



