FRUIT ON THE FARM. 271 



a scantling from each side and secure them to the posts by a 

 carriage bolt, and then stretch wires for the vines to run on. 

 This would be much cheaper than boards, as the posts could be 

 much farther apart, and the wires would be more durable. 



The varieties of grapes are almost numberless, and each 

 year brings out new ones, which sell at high prices. These are 

 often exceedingly valuable to the nurseryman, but seldom to the 

 buyer. I have at different times bought one or more of these new 

 high-priced varieties probably ten or twelve in all and have 

 never been rewarded with a single bunch of grapes from one of 

 them. Those which have given me the best satisfaction are 

 the Concord, Catawba, Ives, Delaware, Clinton, and Hartford 

 Prolific. With the exception of the Catawba and Delaware, 

 these are not first-class grapes; but they bear abundant crops, 

 and when fully ripe are very eatable. 



The Catawba in its perfection is delicious; but occasionally 

 it fails to ripen. With me it will mature a crop two years out 

 of three, and if it would only do so every third year, I would 

 still grow it for family use. 



The Concord is the grape for the million. It is an early and 

 abundant bearer, has large fruit in large clusters covered with a 

 blue bloom. I have fruited this variety for twelve years without 

 a single failure; but some years the vines so exhaust them- 

 selves by overbearing that the crop is inferior both in quality 

 and quantity the ensuing year; yet this can be largely remedied 

 by attention to pruning. 



The Delaware, where it will succeed, is an excellent table 

 grape, and will give the best of satisfaction for family use. 



The Ives is prolific and hardy, and when fully ripe is good 

 flavored. But as it colors long before it is ripe, it is usually 

 gathered before its fine flavor is developed, and many who have 

 fruited it for years have very little idea of its excellence. 



In pruning the grape, bear in mind that the fruit grows on 

 new wood made from buds which start the same spring. In prun- 

 ing young vines, the object is to get a good, healthy vine. At 

 one year old the vine should be cut back to two buds, and 

 when they start rub out the weaker one. Cut back well each 



