278 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
must provide some kind of a winter protection for the vines. To cover 
them with earth was a slow and laborious process, and the wind frequently — 
disturbed a straw covering. ‘To obviate that and with a view to conveni- 
ence, I began to move the soil up to my vines, making ridges where the 
plants grew and corresponding depressions between the rows. I found 
this a great improvement, and I also discovered that where the sun’s 
rays struck the ridges most directly, there the vines threw out many new 
fibrous roots, and both vine and fruit were benefitted. As the canes be- 
came old and stiff, I found it difficult to bend them down without injury, 
so I began to encourage the growth of young canes, and when these came 
into bearing, I cut away the older ones, replacing them with young, plia- 
ble vines that could be readily bent without injury. I soon had my vines 
growing on high ridges with only young fruit-bearing canes 
I was not long learning also,that I could control the lower part, or body of 
the canes, so that it was not necessary to replace the old ones so often. My 
plan is this: I take a young cane, train it up to the trellis, and keep all 
leaves removed from the stalk, up to the height where I desire it to branch. 
I then permit the cane to put on as many branches as I desire, keeping all 
foliage pinched off below the branches. By this means, the main stem or 
body of the vine remains small and pliable, and can be readily bent down 
for covering. 
As the result of my experiments I would advise those without experi- 
ence as follows: } 
Use strong two-year-old vines, and plant in rows running north and 
south, about twelve feet apart. The vines should be set on ridges eigh- 
teen to twenty inches high, and about ten feet apart on the ridge. Fora 
trellis, I use posts about five feet out of the ground with a piece of 2x4 
scantling about four feet long nailed to the top at right angles with the 
row, boring two holes through the posts, one about two feet from the 
ground and another eighteen inches above that,and three holes in the cross 
piece, one at each end and one in the center. Now, run your wires through 
these holes, coupling them together between the posts, so they can easily — 
be uncoupled and drawn out, allowing the vines to fall to the ground. 
