CULTURAL METHODS FOR THE GRAPE IN NEW YORK 1279 



The Trellis 



Chestnut or locust posts are preferred for the trellis. These 

 should be from six to eight feet in length, and the heaviest should 

 be selected for end posts. After sharpening to a tapering point 

 they can be driven into holes made with a crowbar. Care should 

 be taken to place them so that they will line perfectly on the side 

 toward the prevailing wind, on which side the wire is fastened. 

 A post to every three vines is sufficient. The end posts should 

 be driven to a depth of from 22 to 24 inches and braced by a 

 two by four or four by four, notched to fit the post half way from 

 tlio ground to the top and extending obliquely to the ground 

 where it is held by a four by four stake. The wire should be 

 No. 9 or No. 10, the number and height of the wires depending 

 on the vigor of the vines and the system of training used. The 

 wires are fastened to the posts by ordinary fence staples, enough 

 space being left in the staple to permit loosening or tightening. 

 The wire is fastened to the end post by winding it once around 

 the post and then around itself. 



PRUNING THE GRAPE 



The grape is pruned, first, to limit the amount of wood, thus 

 preventing overbearing, and thereby producing fruit of quality 

 without sacrificing the vigor of the vine; secondly, to keep the 

 vine within bounds, thus economizing the land and facilitating 

 cultivation, spraying, and harvesting. In pruning grapes, as in 

 pruning any other fruit-bearing plant, the relationship of the 

 wood to fruit bearing must be thoroughly understood.* The suc- 

 cessful vineyardist must ever keep in mind that the fruit of the 

 present year is borne at the base of shoots of this year, which 

 spring from the canes of last year, or from the older wood. 

 That there may be produced fruit of the best size and flavor, it is 

 obvious that a vine must be limited in production. Judicious 

 pruning aims to accomplish this. A good average yield for a 

 Concord vine would be fifteen pounds, although certain vines 

 have averaged much more. In order to produce this amount, we 

 estimate that from forty to sixty clusters are required. Since 



* See article on Pruning by E. van Alstyne, Part I, page 830, 



