58 ANNUAL REPORT. ° 
grapes, so far as quality and quantity are concerned, compare favorably with any 
grown in the same latitude farther east, or where the same varieties are grown. 
We may have the grape in season nearly as long as the apple. Carefully se- 
lected varieties will keep till spring. The interest manifested in improving the 
varieties by seedlings, and the extensive planting in vineyards and gardens, is 
most encouraging, and shows how earnestly the people desire to raise their own 
fruit. There are a number of requisites for the successful cultivation of grapes. 
They may be grown upon almost any soil that will produce a good corn crop. 
A southern exposure 1s to be preferred. This with a clay loam leaves little to be 
desired so far as soil and aspect is concerned. Training and pruning are indis- 
pensable; where these are neglected failure is almost sure to follow. No vine 
or vineyard will long continue to yield good crops of fruit without thorough cul- 
tivation. It is difficult to do this, where the vines are trained upon the ordinary 
trellis. Single stakes are better in this respect, but it is ditticult to prune the 
vines properly, and usually leads to the annual renewal system of pruning. 
The largest bunches of grapes are found upon the shoots growing from wood of 
more than one year’s growth. The buds are more perfectly developed upon the 
laterals than upon the single canes of one year’s growth. The vines should be 
pruned so as to retain a portion of the old wood. A system of training which 
combines all the advantages of the single stake in cultivating the vines, as well 
as that of the common trellis, is desirable. I have one that is well adapted to 
the purposes aml is not subject to the objections of either. Where the vines 
are trained upon the common trellis, the vines receive a good share of sunshine, 
while the soil is much shaded. 
For a vineyard the system of training as shown by the accompanying cuts, 
has the advantage of exposing the vines to the heat of the sun, allowing it to 
shine upon nearly every foot of soil some time during the day, and is very easy 
of construction. No trellis is required until the third season after planting. A 
single stake answers every purpose up to this time. 
The vines should be planted not less than eight feet apart each way. The 
rows should run north and south, or nearly so. Set a post at each vine. Tnse 
should be seven feet above the ground. Where the vines are to be worked both 
ways, nail a strip of lumber, say one inch by two, at the top of the posts, the 
whole length of the rows. Lay off three spaces each side of the posts, one foot 
apart; then measure down the post, from the top, three spaces two feet apart. 
Stretch a wire, or nail a strip of lumber from the point on the post to that on 
the ridge piece. This will make three strips, one foot apart, on each side of the 
post. Together they form the shape of a fan, By training upon this trellis, 
pruning is simplified, and easily understood. The spurs all being at right an- 
gles with the main cane, are easily laid down for winter protection. 
The soil should be thoroughly prepared, where it is not naturally loose. Sub- 
soiling should be resorted to. 
Good two year old vines are best, and should be set eight or ten inches deep. 
Roots well spread out. Press the soil tightly upon the roots, for one or two 
inches, filling the hole with loose dirt. Do not tread the top soil, as this pre- 
vents the dews and rain from reaching the roots. A light mulching at the time 
of planting often proves of great benefit. At the fall pruning cut to three 
buds. 
The second year train a single cane, cut this cane back to two feet or less after 
the leaves have fallen. The third season train to a stake again, and at the fall 
