time in pruning and tying, with many other advantages over trellises ordinarily in use. This 

 has not been patented. It is freely given to the world. It, in its earlier cruder form, several 

 times has been published and illustrated, but my latest method is an improvement in economical 

 construction of what is known as the Munson Three Wire Canopy Trellis. 



The vine in nature invariably tries to make a canopy of its foliage over its fruit, body and 

 root, and yet above ground sufficiently to allow ventilation and diffused light enough to favor 

 the proper development and ripening of the fruit. This was the key to my invention. 



With the single post, the winds thrashed and twisted the vines about until the ties were 

 worn off, and down they came, full of fruit, to the ground, the crop greatly damaged and requiring 

 immediate attention in tying up again in the very busiest season. Besides, there was never room 

 for the vine to properly expand itself. The lower part of the body was exposed to the baking 

 sun, and in a few years killed along its southwest side. The foliage either matted up in a bundle, 

 choking the fruit, or had to be kept cut back too closely for the health of the vine. The crops 

 were small and uneven in quality, and the vines short-lived. Besides, the post in the center was 

 a perpetual harbor for insects and fungi, ready to prey on vine and fruit. 



In the vertical three or two-wire trellis was found a large improvement, especially with the 

 Kniffin method of long-arm pruning and drooping training. The fan-training on such trellises 

 was next best, and the Fuller system poorest, because so tedious in detail and the incessant pinch- 

 ing necessary to maintain the balance of the vine. All, however, lacked the proper canopy of 

 shade, permitted uneven exposure of foliage and fruit to wind and light, presented a broad surface 

 of resistance to storms, and when the ground became saturated and soft, or the trellis a little old, 

 whole rows would go down with a crush of fruit in a heavy blow. 



Besides, the vertical wire trellises in a vineyard allow no free ventilation when full of foliage 

 and fruit, and are the same as so many fences to oppose one's passing from row to row at any 

 point in the vineyard. 



So, I might show the defects of all the other trellises commonly used, and I will illustrate 

 only the one proven best. 



' ""\fcntt l Jull V>mvio cuje, (OUT arms eack, bruned a 



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:* TheMunsouThree-wireTrouhltelli5. 



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-J -ft^e^r. 



The posts should be of some durable strong wood, such as Bois d'Arc (Osage), Cedar, heart 

 wood of Catalpa, Black Locust, or White Oak. The end posts of every row should be large and 

 strong and be set three and one-half or four feet in the ground and well tamped. The intermediate 

 posts, which may be much lighter than the end posts, should be six and one-half or seven feet 



224 



