298 ANNUAL REPORT 



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at one time. When the shoots have reached the top wire they should 

 be pinched off; the stems of green grass are used to tie the shoots; 

 about five strands to one tie In pruning this year spurs of tvro buds 

 each should be left the whole length of the vine at a distance of six 

 or ten inches apart. In selecting spurs on the part of the vine where 

 spurs were left last year, a shoot should be selected growing as near the 

 main vine as possible and two buds left on it, and the old spur should 

 be cut just above the new one. Fig. 4 represents the pruning of the 

 spur this year. Cover the same as before explained. This year the 

 vines may safely carry eight to ten pounds of fruit, and after this, as 

 a mature vine, it should bear ten to fifteen pounds yearly; but look 

 carefully to the thinning of the fruit in the early part of the season, 

 to prevent crippling the vine by overbearing. 



The after-training of the vines is substantially the same as given for 

 the fourth year. 



RENEWING. 



In renewing the vine on account of a vacant place on it caused by 

 the lack of shoots to make spurs, a strong shoot should be selected, to 

 be tied to the lower wire in place of the old vine, and the old vine 

 should be cut off just beyond the selected shoot. Spurs should be 

 grown on this cane as directed for the third year. 



GATHERING FRUIT. 



When enough fruit has been ripened, the vineyard should be gone 

 over and the ripe fruit gathered. Fruit should never be gathered that 

 is not thoroughly ripe, as a grape raised in Minnesota that is not 

 wholly ripe is sour and not fit to eat or market; so, in order to please 

 the buyer and to obtain a ready sale and a good price, do not pick any- 

 thing but ripe grapes. In picking grapes, care should be taken to 

 handle the bunch as little as possible, as lit will rub the bloom off 

 the grape and injure the looks of it. The best basket to pick the grape 

 in is the ten pound air-tight basket with a light cover. After the 

 baskets have been filled, they may be brought to the alleys, covered 

 and loaded. This is one use of the alley; the other is to facilitate the 

 handling of straw in the fall. 



COVERING OF MATURE VINES. 



The vineyard should be covered with earth every fall, as before di- 

 rected; but in heavy clay soils, after the vines become mature (about 



