THE GRAPE. 45 



of pruning. But whatever plan for after-training is adopted the 

 care of the vine for the first two years should be about the same. 



THE FIRST YEAR no support or pruning is needed. The vines 

 will ripen their wood as well on the surface of the ground as if 

 tied to stakes, but it will be more convenient about cultivating if 

 they are staked. Late in the autumn of this year all of the vines 

 should be cut away except three or four buds, as shown in Pig. 31, 

 which should be covered with a mound of earth four or five inches 

 deep, and later on, before cold weather sets in, apply a covering of 

 mulch, two or three inches in depth, of straw or litter of some sort. 

 This mulching is absolutely necessary to insure the wintering of 

 newly transplanted vines. 



Trellis. The following spring a trellis should be built unless 

 stakes were set the first year, v^hen they may be used again and 



FIG. 32. Vine in spring of the third season. 



the work of putting up a trellis be deferred until the opening of 

 the third year. The form of trellis may vary greatly, but a very 

 practical and simple kind is made by setting posts twelve feet 

 apart in the row, and using four wires of No. 12 galvanized iron, 

 putting the lowest one about eighteen inches from the ground, and 

 those above ten inches apart. The wires should be fastened 

 securely to one end post, passing through the other end and 

 through staples driven in the inside posts, so as to allow the wires 

 free play through them. This method allows the loosening of the 

 wires in autumn and tightening them in summer. 



THE SECOND YEAR, as soon as the weather is settled, the vine 

 should be uncovered ; the garden fork being the best tool for this 

 purpose. Permit only one bud to grow, and that the strongest that 

 starts. Rub off all the others that show, while they are smalL 



