261 



ANNUAL REPORT. 



close pruning; which does well enough for the nurseryman who wants 

 grape wood to set; but I soon satisfied myself that success in the object 

 I sought demanded and depended upon an abundance of fruit-bearing 

 wood. 



As a boy, at the risk of my life oftentimes, I had ventured out on 

 the limbs of trees to reach the best clusters which I invariably found 

 at the ends of the vines. 



Dame Nature usually knows her business and here was a suggestion 

 that I commenced to act upon and, instead of cutting to the third 

 joint, I from year to year increased the length of my bearing canes 

 until they were from six to ten feet long, depending on the vigor of 

 the root and the ripeness, or mature condition of the wood. 



I will briefly narrate the manner of operation commencing from the 

 ground. 



Two-year old vines are the most desirable. The ground should be 

 in good condition and I would plant in rows running north and south 

 twelve feet apart; the vines should be set on ridges eighteen inches to 

 two feet high and ten feet apart on the ridges. For a trellis I use posts 

 out of the ground five feet with a two by four scantling at right 

 angles with the row, four feet long. I string two wires on the upright 

 posts and on the cross scantling three wires, one in the center and one 

 at each end. 



Grape Trellis, with wire attached. 



I grow mainly Concords and am not troubled with mildew or any 

 disease. I manure the ground liberally by mulching with well rotted 

 manure, drawing the fibrous roots to the surface where they get 

 abundance of moisture. As rapidly as possible I draw the bearing 

 canes onto the top cross-piece, pruning the leaves off partly below 



