134 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



pleted by supplying the remaining posts and wires. A 

 more common practice is to cut the young vines back 

 to two or three buds, at the end of the first year's 

 growth, allowing the canes of the second year to trail on 

 the ground, an obstruction to the work of cultivation, 

 driving posts and stringing wire. The most usual form 

 of trellis consists of two No. 9 plain steel wires stapled 

 to the posts. Three wires possess many advantages, but 

 have not come into general use. Of course it is found 

 necessary to keep the vineyards thoroughly cultivated 

 and free from weeds and grass. XJnderdraining is also 

 indispensable to the highest success, except on those 

 soils composed of gravel drift. Spraying with fungi- 

 cides has never come into very general practice in the 

 Chautauqua grape belt. The principal reason for this 

 is that the vineyards in that favored region have beea 

 almost wholly exempt from mildew, black rot and other 

 fungous diseases. The Concord vines especially have, 

 in this region, always remained perfectly healthy with- 

 out spraying or other protection. There is a prevalent 

 idea that this comparative immunity is due to the pure 

 fresh breezes from Lake Erie. But it doubtless results 

 mainly from the restricted precipitation of rain and dew 

 through the growing season. Still, this exceptional 

 good fortune can hardly be expected to continue forever, 

 especially as some new and otherwise desirable varieties 

 are not entirely healthy in foliage and fruit, if left with- 

 out protective treatment. Wide-awake, progressive vine- 

 yardists are providing themselves with spraying outfits, 

 and learning to apply preventive treatment for fungus 

 and insect enemies. 



The grape harvest begins in September. The grapes 

 are picked in crates two feet long, twelve inches wide 

 and six inches deep. When filled these are hauled to 

 the packing house, where they stand twenty-four hours 

 or more, before the grapes are packed in veneer baskets* 



