THE FRUITS 161 



southern states; and the wild grape of the river banks the 

 varieties for the western and south-western states. On the 

 Pacific coast most of the varieties are of European origin. It 

 is here that the raisin grapes are raised. 



Grapes will grow in any well-drained soil, but best in a 

 dark-colored loam not too fertile. Grapes are usually propa- 

 gated by cuttings or by layering. Commercial growers keep 

 the young vines closely pruned back until they are four years 

 old and then let them bear only a few bunches of fruit. The 

 farmer usually does not cut back his vines so much. The 

 commercial grower trains his vines to grow on a trellis, or a 

 stake. The farmer lets his vines run along the side of a build- 

 ing or on a roof and sometimes over an archway to make 

 shade as well as fruit. Finer fruit will be obtained if not too 

 many clusters are allowed to grow on a vine. It is best for the 

 vine to cut it back heavily every year, leaving only one or 

 two buds on a branch and not many branches on a main 

 stem. Pruning is best done in the autumn or very early in 

 spring. If the vine is pruned in the spring the sap is apt to 

 ooze from the cut end ("bleed") and weaken the vine. 



The varieties are classed as purple, red, and white. Of the 

 purple ones, Moore's Early, Worden, and Concord are good; 

 of the red, Brighton, Salem, and Delaware; and of the white, 

 Diamond, Niagara, and Martha. 



4. Small Fruits. — Of the small fruits the currant, goose- 

 berry, raspberry, blackberry, and dewberry, are commonly 

 called biish fruits from their habit of growth. 



The Currant. — All our good varieties of currants have been 

 brought from Europe or developed from European varieties. 

 The currant naturally likes cool conditions and so does best 

 in a rather compact soil. However, the soil should be fertile 



