The Planting of the Fruit- Farm 99 



some set them ten, apart. The vine is trained on 

 two wires, stretching the length of the row, the 

 lower three feet, the upper, six feet from the ground. 

 Each wire is drawn taut, is fastened securely to 

 the post at the end of the row, and is also fastened 

 by staples to stakes at intervals of twenty or 

 twenty-four feet apart driven in the row. The 

 vine is fastened to the wire with twine — Si heavy 

 hemp cut to length — or with wire. The hemp is 

 cut long enough to tie readily; the wire, fine and 

 flexible, is about three inches long. Fifty years 

 ago vines were tied with willow, as they still are 

 in Germany. The method was brought into the 

 Valley by the Germans who came in great numbers 

 shortly after the Revolution of 1848. As the 

 German skill has died out, and labor has become 

 scarcer and more expensive, the use of the willow 

 has ceased. The wire is convenient but is liable 

 to cut the vine if it sways in the wind. The hemp 

 cord has proved a practicable substitute for the 

 willow, is easier to handle, and cannot injure the 

 vine. 



The end posts are well set and anchored either by 

 bringing the upper wire over the post and burying 

 in the ground, the extreme end of the wire wrapped 

 about a stone, thus bracing the post in front, or 

 by placing a brace in the row, behind the post, — 

 using a strong stake or a fence rail. The wire 

 anchorage system in front of the post is objection- 

 able because it interferes with the tools, catches the 

 hames, and may be torn out as the team turns the 



