KNIFFIN TRAINING 465 



or twice during the summer, so that they will 

 hang free. 



Only two wires are used in the true Kniffin 

 trellis. The end posts are usually set in holes, 

 rather than driven, to render them solid, and they 

 should always be well braced. The intermediate 

 posts are driven, and they usually stand between 

 every alternate vine, or twenty feet apart if the 

 vines are ten feet apart which is a common dis- 

 tance for the most vigorous varieties. For the 

 strong -growing varieties, the top wire is placed 

 from five and one -half to six feet above the 

 ground. Five feet nine inches is a popular 

 height. The posts will heave sufficiently to bring 

 the height to six feet, although it is best to "tap" 

 the posts every spring with a maul in order to 

 drive them back and make them firm. The lower 

 wire is usually placed at three and one -half feet. 

 Delawares, if trained Kniffin, should not stand 

 above five feet four inches, or at most five feet 

 six inches. Strong vines on good soil are often 

 put onto the trellis the second year, although it 

 is a commoner practice, perhaps, to stake them 

 the second season, as already explained (page 412), 

 and put them on the wires the third season. The 

 year following the tying on the trellis, the vine 

 should bear a partial crop. The vine is usually 

 carried directly to the top wire the first season of 

 training, although it is the practice of some grow- 

 ers, especially outside the Hudson Valley, to stop 



DD 



