460 AMERICAN GRAPE TRAINING, CONCLUDED 



until the fruit could be gathered. But as the 

 fruit matured, its large size and handsome ap- 

 pearance attracted attention. It was the best 

 fruit in the vineyard! Mr. Kniffin was an obser- 

 vant man, and he inquired into the cause of the 

 excellent fruit. He noticed that the vine had 

 been pruned, and that the best canes stood out 

 horizontally. From this suggestion he developed 

 the four -cane system of training which now bears 

 his name. A year or two later, in 1854, the 

 system had attracted the attention of those of 

 his neighbors who cultivated grapes, and there- 

 after it spread throughout the Hudson Valley, 

 where it is to-day, with various modifications, 

 the chief method of grape training. Its merits 

 have become known beyond its original valley, 

 and it is now spreading more rapidly than any 

 other system. The ground upon which the old 

 Isabellas grew is now occupied by Concords, 

 which are as vigorous and productive as those 

 grown upon newer soils. William Kniffin died 

 at his home in Clintondale, Ulster county, New 

 York, June 13, 1876, at fifty -seven years of age. 



THE TRUE OR FOUR -CANE KNIFFIN SYSTEM. 



The true Kniffin system, very nearly as practiced 

 by its originator, is shown in Fig. 293. A single 

 stem or trunk is carried directly to the top wire, 

 and two canes are taken out from side spurs at 

 each wire. Mr. Kniffin believed in short canes, 

 and cut them back to about six buds on both 



