102 



ANNUAL REPORT 



per C3!it of those who attempt the culture meet with success. 

 This large percentage of failure does not arise from unfavorable 

 condition of soil or climate, but from ignorance of proi^er meth- 

 ods of planting, handling, etc. 



In trim ning the vines in the fall, for fruiting the next year, 

 nothing should be left on them but fruit buds, and these in 

 such quantities only as the age and vigor of the root will bear. 

 Heat and sunlight are the great essentials to ripen grapes; hence 

 the warmest and sunniest place should be selected for them. 

 They will do well on any dry soil, though a sandy loam is best 

 in this region. Side hills sloping to the south, or. east, are the 

 most sought after. In cold countries the vines should be pro- 

 tected from the cold winds of the west or north; soil should be 

 moderately ric^h and cultivated deeply. Make the rows seven 

 feet apart and the plants eight feet apart in the 

 rows, setting the roots eight inches deep, 

 spread the roots in all directions, and press the 

 soil firmly about them; allow but one cane to grow, 

 and tie it to a stake about four feet high; keep off 

 all sprouts from the roots. When the new wood 

 has made a growth of three feet pinch the top; 

 pinch back the laterals to two leaves; hold the 

 plant at three feet and the lateral at two leaves, 

 the first year, by occasionally pinching back; this 

 will develope the buds, make the i)lant stocky and 

 increase the size and vigor of the roots. Such a 

 plant is shown at Fig. 1. About the middle of 

 October cut it back to three buds, and just before 

 winter sets in press it flat on the ground and cover 

 about five inches deep with earth, with a few inches of straw for 

 mulching. In the sirring uncover, tie to the stake, and when 

 the buds push, select the strongest and rub the others off. Man- 

 age the growing vine precisely as during the first year, with this 

 exception; let it attain four or five feet, according to the vigor 

 of the vine, before the top is pinched; that is for one vine, all 

 the laterals must be confined to two leaves, and all sprouts that 

 may come from the roots must be promptly removed. Such a 

 vine, if vigorous and healthy, will be well suijplied with fruit 

 buds for fruiting the next year. In the fall remove all of the 

 vine except that part which contains fruit buds. 



The grapevine has three distinct kinds of buds: fruit buds, 

 forcing buds, and wood buds. The fruit bud is large, round, or 



Fig. 1. 



