372 ANNUAL REPOET 



two dollars per hundred for Concords to twenty for some of the 

 finer varieties. For plants, use good, strong two year old 

 vines grown from cuttings with two rows of well develojDcd 

 fibrous roots and sound, mature wood, cut back to two or three 

 eyes; or, with varieties like the Delaware, which root very 

 poorly from cuttings, one year old layers are best. 



Set the vines early in the spring, and mark off the rows 

 in a straight line not less than 8 nor more than 12 feet apart, 

 and set 8 feet apart in the rows; 8x10 will give 528 vines 

 per acre, which is enough when we stoj) to consider that 

 each vine will extend its roots 20 feet or more in every direc- 

 tion. Make the holes large enough in setting to sj)read the roots 

 out in a natural manner without crowding each other, and set 

 the plants in a slanting position lengthwise of the row so the 

 lower eye will be at the surface of the ground, with one or two 

 eyes above] fill the hole with good soil, keeping the roots well 

 apart, pressing the dirt firmly about them, and if the weather is 

 dry mulch lightly over them to retain the moisture; this will in- 

 sure a vigorous, healthy growth that will well pay for a little 

 extra care and resetting. 



Daring the first season grow one strong cane from the plant 

 with no pinching or pruning whatever in the summer, except 

 to remove such extra sprouts as may start around the vine at 

 the surface of the ground, and all frait stems which may form . 

 When the season's growth is past and the leaves have fallen, 

 trim away the entire growth above the second well developed 

 bud on the new growth which is usually about one foot from the 

 base where the cane started. Just before the ground freezes 

 bend in the direction which the vine naturally leans and cover 

 entire with three or four inches of earth, for winter protection. 

 A crop of beans may be grown the first and second years without 

 injury, and sometimes when cut worms are thick, with positive 

 benefit to the vines. Corn or potatoes are better than weeds. 



The first operation of the second year is to remove the covering 

 and lift the vines, when all danger of spring frost is past, handle 

 with care, without inj ury to the tender buds, and tie to stakes 

 with bagging twine. Stakes may be of any cheap wood that will 

 last two years, and five or six feet high. Plow at once with one 

 horse three or four inches deep as near the row as possible to cut 

 the surface roots, throwing the dirt away from the vines after- 

 wards; cultivate clean. This season allow two canes to grow, one 

 of which may be stopped at three and the other at six feet from 



