348 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



pan bottom. I have vines set at different distances apart and have 

 trimmed in different ways and do not think that success in grape 

 growing depends on any one way of trimming, but rather on the 

 location and tiie soil ; but a man had best take one oi" the dif- 

 ferent ways and follow it. 



Then, to produce the finest fruit, the vine-dresser must be in 

 love with his vines, and watch them as a mother watches the growth 

 of her child, looking after each one, and knowing the fruiting 

 capacity of each vine, A mother might as well ask a sick child 

 to get a hard lesson as a vine-dresser expect a feeble vine 

 to bring fine table fruit. And 3'et it is being done every year ; and 

 the cry goes out : "Why don't my vines do better?" 



The question is often asked me, " How do you manure your 

 vines ? " and I have always tried to answer it, but should this 

 question be asked me today I should say, " Study your vines and 

 trv the effect of different manures ; for this is one of the corner- 

 stones of success." Another is the maintenance of equal propor- 

 tion between the top and the root, and he who is fortunate enough 

 to maintain it, other things being favorable, will be rewarded with 

 good grapes. 



M}' experience for the past year has convinced me that I can 

 grow the largest bunches on cow manure ; but that muriate of pot- 

 ash and ground bone will produce the most sugar of anything I 

 have ever used, and hasten the ripening from three to five days. 

 I commenced b}' using four parts of bone to one of muriate of 

 potash ; but I have gradually worked in more potash, and for my 

 land 1 think that is the main thing needed for the vine, but just 

 how often and what quantit}' to apply is the study. 



Most of my vines are set eight by six feet; and they run on a 

 trellis made by placing chestnut posts once in twelve feet and 

 stretching four lengths of No. 15 galvanized wire. The first wire 

 is twenty inches from the ground ; then there is a distance of 

 fourteen inches, then thirteen inches, then fourteen inches. The 

 wire can be fastened to the posts by staples, or by an eight-penny 

 wrought iron nail, or two six-penny nails driven into the posts so 

 as to cross each other near their heads. Braces can be put in to 

 support the end posts. The vines alternate, running first on the 

 lower and then on the third wire — the young shoots of each 

 alternate vine to be tied ui> to tlie second and fourth wires respec- 

 tively ; and the first two strong shoots at the base of the vine to 



