104 ANNUAL REPORT 



trellis, fastened to the lower wire, in the spring. The' buds- 

 should all swell at the same time; this result is accomplished by 

 elevating or lowering the vine at the top end; if the buds are 

 making too much growth at the end of the vine, drop it down 

 a little; if it is too slow elevate it; by so doing all the buds 

 can be made to start together; this must be carefully attended to 

 at the commencement of growth. When growth commences it 

 will be very rapid, blossoms and clusters will appear at each 

 joint as shown in the cut ; tie the growing canes to the wires ;; 

 when they reach the top wire turn them down between the fruit- 

 ing canes as shown in Fig. 3. Allow nothing to grow but the 

 fruiting canes and two leaves to each lateral. The long vine on 

 the left is for the next year's fruiting ; allow it to make a growth 

 of six or seven feet, then pinch off and hold all the laterals to 

 two leaves. In the fall remove the bearing arm at the point in- 

 dicated by the lower dart. The new vine will be the next year's. 

 fruiting arm ; this is known as the ''renewal system," each year 

 growing a fruiting arm or vine. 



If you are growing from forcing buds, which is too often the 

 case, pinch the top of each cane above the third joint; also the 

 laterals beyond two leaves ; keep off all sprouts that may ap- 

 pear ; renew the pinching as new growth appears, and in no case 

 allowthe vines to go beyond the top wire. The grapes will be 

 later in ripening, at least two weeks or more, than those from 

 fruit buds. 



The following are the most popular varieties for this region : 

 Concord, Delaware, Worden, Moore's Early and Cottage. The 

 last two named are large and good, fifteen or twenty days earlier 

 than the Concord. 



Grapes should be well cultivated till the first of August ; after 

 that pull out the weeds and they will do much better then if 

 cultivated late. Trim in the fall as soon as growth ceases ; this 

 will hasten the ripening of the grapes the next year. Cover 

 the vines as late in the fall as possible, as before directed. Un- 

 cover as soon as danger of freezing is over. 



I am aware that my mode of handling grapevines differs from 

 most growers in this region, but it is not new, has been fully 

 tested by myself and other parties, and has been found to be far 

 ahead of any other system. The principal advantages'of this, 

 system are : early ripening, larger quantity and less labor. 



