The Trellis. 27 



give better results than the others under partial 

 neglect. The strong varieties, especially those 

 making long and drooping canes, are well adapted 

 to the Kniffin styles ; but the smaller sorts, and 

 those stronger sorts which, like Catawba, make an 

 upright and stocky growth, are usually trained upon 

 the upright systems. But the merits of both sys- 

 tems are so various and even so little understood, 

 that it is impossible to recommend either one un- 

 qualifiedly. The advantages in either case are often 

 little more than matters of personal opinion. It 

 should be said, however, that the Kniffin or droop- 

 ing systems are gaining in favor rapidly, and are 

 evidently destined to overthrow much of the older 

 upright training. This fact does not indicate, how- 

 ever, that the upright system is to be entirely su- 

 perseded, but rather that, it must be confined to 

 those varieties and conditions for which it is best 

 adapted. The two systems will undoubtedly sup- 

 plement each other. The horizontal systems are 

 occasionally used for choice varieties, but they are 

 little known. 



Making the Trellis. The fall or winter following 

 the planting of the vineyard, the trellis is begun if 

 the upright systems are used ; but this operation is 

 usually delayed a year longer in the Kniffin sys- 

 tems, and stakes are commonly used, or at least 

 recommended, during the second season. In the 

 South the trellis is made the first year. The style 

 of trellis will depend upon the style of training, 



