THE VINEYARD. 



roots of the vines. Crimson clover does 

 not, as a rule, make sufficient growth to 

 afford much protection when sown as 

 late in the season as seems desirable. 

 Probably rye or field pease will serve the 

 purpose and will also give some return 

 when ploughed under. Grape growers 

 in this vicinity make special arrange- 

 ments in the way of providing movable 

 " snow catchers " for the more exposed 

 parts of their vineyards. This is very 

 important when the vines are young. 



Fertilizers. — Heavy fertilizing with 

 barnyard manures will, in most cases, 

 induce an over luxuriant growth with a 



same throughout. The vine produces 

 its fruit near the base of the growing 

 shoots that spring from the wood of last 

 season's growth. These shoots go on 

 growing after producing two or three 

 clusters of fruit ; a bud is formed every 

 six or eight inches. If the cane makes 

 a growth of eight or ten feet it would 

 mean a dozen or more such buds. Then 

 if this cane were not cut back each bud 

 would throw out a shoot the following 

 spring, which would bear two or three 

 bunches of fruit. As each vine would 

 carry ten or fifteen such canes it is easily 

 seen that the crop of fruit would be 



-Fan System Before 



tendency to mildew of foliage and fruit. 

 A dressing of barnyard manure once in 

 three years will probably give cufficient 

 nitrogen. The phosphoric acid and 

 potash (both of which are largely drawn 

 upon by the grape vine) should be sup- 

 plied the two remaining years. Wood 

 ashes or muriate of potash, and super- 

 phosphate or bone meal will supply 

 these. • 



Training and Pruning. — To carry out 

 any system of pruning properly, and there 

 are many, one should understand the 

 underlying principles, and these are the 



Proino. ( From a photograph.) 



greater than the vine could properly de- 

 velop and mature. Pruning, is therefore, 

 practised as a means of thmning the 

 crop and keeping the vines within 

 bounds and under control. 



In Quebec and Eastern Ontario, 

 where vines need winter protection, and 

 are carried through the winter by laying 

 them down and covering them with 

 earth, two systems of training are prac- 

 ticable only. Whatever system, the 

 cane may be cut back, to two eyes at 

 the first year's growth in the vineyard. 



Fan System. — ^This is used most freely 



51 



