GRAPES. 209 



There are times when vines left on the trellises will 

 go through the most severe winters uninjured, 

 while at other times a less severe winter is fatal to 

 them. When the. vines kill it is not usual that the 

 roots are affected, but in this loss of canes we are 

 set back at least one year. 



It is believed that the different effect upon the vines 

 in different winters as above, is caused by the con- 

 dition of the ground in the fall as to moisture, and 

 perhaps to the manner in which the canes ripened the 

 previous summer, but in a less degree. It will kill or 

 severely injure plants to freeze them dry, and when 

 there is no moisture, or very little in the ground at 

 the time of freezing, there is danger of a total loss 

 of the plant. This is more especially the case if 

 the plants are young and have not secured a strong 

 hold upon the soil. This is the reason that so 

 many complain that their vines made a fine growth 

 the first year and died the first winter. If there 

 could have been some way to have supplied this 

 moisture, and the vines had been properly covered, 

 this would not have occurred. Even in these dry- 

 est of falls, if the ground has been properly culti- 

 vated there will still be enough moisture retained 

 to carry the plants through, and these losses are 

 generally the fault of the planter. Very many 

 people do not yet realize how important this stir- 

 ring the ground is in a dry climate. 



It is a mistake to suppose that grapes will 

 ripen in the sunlight better than in a partially 

 shaded position. Many have thought to hurry 



