NEED OF INSTRUCTION 399 



general system of training, but require minor 

 modifications ; so it comes that no hard and fast 

 lines can be laid down, either for any system or 

 any variety. One system differs from another in 

 some one main principle or idea, but the modifi- 

 cations of all may meet and blend. If two men 

 practice the Kniffin system, therefore, this fact 

 does not indicate that they prune and train their 

 vines exactly alike. It is impossible to formulate 

 rules for grape - training ; it is, therefore, im- 

 portant that we understand thoroughly the phi- 

 losophy of pruning and training, both in general 

 and in the different systems which are now most 

 popular. 



These Chapters (VII. and VIII.) on grape train- 

 ing are a revision of my "American Grape Train- 

 ing," published by the Rural Publishing Company 

 in 1893. The motive of the book was thus set 

 forth in the preface: "This little book has grown 

 out of an attempt to teach the principles and 

 methods of grape training to college students. I 

 have found such teaching to be exceedingly diffi- 

 cult and unsatisfactory. It is impossible to firmly 

 impress the lessons by mere lectures. The student 

 must apprehend the principles slowly and by his 

 own effort. He must have time to thoroughly 

 assimilate them before he attempts to apply them. 

 I therefore cast about for books which I could 

 put before my class, but I at once found that 

 there are very few succinct accounts of the sub- 



