50. WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1893. 



put them in small piles around the field. In the spring the posts are 

 set 2^ feet deep and 12 feet apart ; should you use small sawed posts, 

 they should be set 6 feet apart. We set the end posts, then draw a 

 line, and set the rest to the line ; in this way we not only get the row 

 of posts straight, Avhich is of great value in cultivating, but we get 

 every vine directly under the wire ; the end posts are braced. The 

 wire used is No. 15, and we have four to a trellis, the bottom one 

 being 20 inches from the ground and the top one a few inches from 

 the top of the posts ; for staples we use short wire nails, driven into 

 the post one below and one above the wire, in the shape of an x. 

 The trellis being in position, we are now ready to grow our first bear- 

 ing cane. There will be several buds start; remove all of these 

 except two or three of the strongest. When the best of these has 

 reached the lower wire, and been securely tied, rub off the rest. 

 We will grow the first vine up to the second wire, and out on that 

 wire 6 feet ; then we will pinch the end. The next vine we will grow 

 to the top wire, and out on that 6 feet, when we will stop it. If from 

 any cause a vine shows signs of weakness, it should be stopped ; this 

 is done by pinching the end of the vine. In the fall, if it does not 

 look strong, cut it back to the lower wire, and give it a chance to 

 grow more roots. During the summer laterals will start out along the 

 growing vine ; these should be pinched back to one leaf. In the fall 

 there will be no trimming, but to cut these laterals back to the main 

 vine. Up to this time we have been growing roots and a bearing 

 cane ; now we are ready to add fruit, and we shall find it necessary to 

 keep both eyes on the gun. When the buds start the next spring take 

 the first strongest shoot and bend it down to the lower wire in an 

 opposite direction to what it grew last year, and run it along this wire 

 until it reaches the next vine, when it should be nipped ; the next 

 vine, which you remember is running on the fourth wire, you treat the 

 same, with the exception of bringing the growing shoot to the third 

 wire instead of the first. These are your bearing canes for next year. 

 Now the remainder of your bearing cane will start from twelve to 

 sixteen buds ; these should be allowed to grow until they show six 

 leaves, then they should be pinched in ; the laterals will start two or 

 three times duriug the summer, and must be pinched back to one leaf 

 each time. These shoots are allowed to hang during the season with- 

 out being tied, and the vine allowed to carry about five pounds of 

 grapes. The winter trimming is very simple, and is done with one cut 

 of the pruning sliears, by removing the bearing cane from the old vine 

 at its junction with the new cane. This method of trimming is kept 



