324 MASSACHUSETTS HOKTICULTUKAL SOCIETY, 



small piles around the field. In the spring the posts are set two 

 and a half feet deep and twelve feet apart ; should you use small 

 sawed posts they should be set six 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, which 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 twenty 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 

 bearing cane. Several buds will 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 six 

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

 the top wire, and out on that six 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 lowest wire 

 in an opposite direction to that in which 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 during the 

 summer, and must be pinched back to one leaf each time. 'Ihese 

 shoots are allowed to hang during the season without being tied, 

 and the vine is allowed to carry about five pounds of grapes. 'Hie 



