REPORT OP COMMITTEE ox PUBLICATION 57 



A consideration of the values of the three systems for grapes of equal 

 vigor with Concord will not be out of place at this time. The Single-Stem 

 Kniffen has proven a very desirable method of training. The wires being 

 some distance from the ground serves to keep all the tender growing parts 

 out of the way of tillage tools. The same statement applies to the Umbrella 

 and the Two-Stem Kniffen. With all three the canes are spaced for good 

 air drainage, the growing parts are not crowded together in such a manner 

 as to make conditions favorable for Powdery Mildew. The pendant position 

 of the shoots disposes the leaves and clusters so that they are readily reached 

 by spray mixtures. All three systems facilitate pruning, tying and harvest- 

 ing, as all the fruit is borne practically between the two wires and but 

 slightly below the lower. The Single-Stem Kniffen has produced the largest 

 yield of the three for the four years that the experiment has been conducted, 

 a yearly average of six tons per acre. The Two-Stem Kniffen follows with 

 5.3 tons, which is in turn followed by the Umbrella with 5 tons. 



The Umbrella has, however, produced the best fruit, not only as to 

 ripeness, but also in size of cluster, size of berry and compactness. The 

 Single-Stem falls short in these respects, while the Two-Stem is very much 

 below the last named. It fails particularly in the ability to mature its fruit, 

 much of it remaining red and unmarketable for dessert purposes. 



The availability of fruiting wood has been greatest in the Umbrella 

 Kniffen as it has also been the most mature. The Single-Stem Kniffen 

 ranks second ; while the Two-Stem Kniffen is a poor third. If the fruit is to 

 be used entirely for dessert purposes the writer recommends the Umbrella 

 Kniffen as a very desirable system. If the grapes are for unfermented juice 

 or wine the Single-Stem possesses many advantages. The Two-Stem Kniffen 

 can probably be discarded as an unsatisfactory system of this type of train- 

 ing. It should be kept in mind that these statements are made for the Con- 

 cord growing under the best conditions of soil, fertilization and tillage. 

 These conditions, however, are met in a great many vineyards in eastern 

 United States. The vines, however, have in no way been pampered. 



The upright type of training includes those systems in which two or 

 more canes or arms are carried along a horizontal wire or obliquely across 

 two or more such wires. The different systems of this type naturally fall 

 into two classes, characterized by the terms Cane Renewal and Spur Re- 

 newal, according as the fruiting wood is obtained. The Spur Renewal, so far 

 as the training of Concord is concerned, may be eliminated from a considera- 

 tion, commercially. The Cane Renewal further separates into two groups, 

 the High Renewal (Fig. 4) and the Arm (Fig. 5). The High Renewal, as 

 the name implies, eliminates practically all of the old wood each year back 

 to the stem. While in the Arm system more or less permanent arms are 

 maintained. The High Renewal carries no wood over one year old, except the 

 stem and spurs, while with the Arm system, in addition to the old stem, 

 arms two years of age and over are maintained, according to the wishes of 

 the vineyardist. 



