680 



GRAPE 



Any fruit appearing on this slioot should be rcmoveil. 

 The lateral shoots that start out each way below tlie ter- 

 minal should be thinned to about 12 or 15 inches apart 

 on each side. This is an important feature, especially if 

 we adopt the spur system of pruning, which we will first 

 consider, for we are now cstiililisliing our vine for a 

 long term of y.:irs, aii.l ii i, a. iTMlil^- to have it sym- 

 metrical witli iIm i !■ . ■ I it evenly distrib- 

 uted over its I III II '■ I li - Miilc of a well bal- 

 anced vine is un. i, i , of the Jliiscat 

 Hamburg. A IVnv ilu -!• i . ■ ■:•■ In- tnlt.-n fr-.m 

 this part of the vine 1 1' . 'I ii- i -.^.i, 

 should bepinched at tu" ' - : i i., 

 they breali pinched n^'.ii i 



as the leaves fall, the \ iii>^ mv n^LMin ml, in .!-i\ii f"i' 

 pruning. The terminal should be sliortoni-d .iboiit oiif- 

 half and the side shoots cut back to a bud very close to 

 the main stem, when it goes through the winter as 

 before. 



At the beginning oT I'n M.'i.l \.Mr il,- i- ri.iiiinl 

 again goes to the top . r ' ! 



it is stopped and the lii(< ' ! ; i! . ' i , i , i. 



fore, say not more thim "i.- ["■■n.i -i i i-v i-. r i.^.i "i 

 the main stem. We now lono oui \iiio f.^ial.lir.ln-il i.j 

 the top of the house, and the only pruning in aftur years 

 is to cut the laterals each year close to the main stem. 

 A bud will nearlv alwavs be found in the first one- 

 eightli incli, sonu-tiracs sovor.-il of thoui. When these 

 start. IIm- vfnMiL'i--i i^ s.l.wi,,! icnl th,. others rubbed 



which the system takes its name. It often becomes 

 several inches in length and ([uite ungainly. This spur 

 system of pruning is represented in Figs. 1)78-980. 



In the other system of pruning, known as the "long 

 rod" or "long cane" system, a new cane is grown up 

 from a bud near the ground every year as 

 often as desired to replace the old one, 

 which is entirely removed. It is often de- 

 sirable to do this. If the vine is well es- 

 tablished, this new cane can be fruited its 



starting the vines, is an absolute neces- 

 sity. It should not bo applied in the 



Imiisp, however, during the period of 



off, null-.- on- i -i il-in 

 side to fill :i MiiMii. ^ II 

 streuf;tli, two |.oiinils ot 

 be grown, but heavy I 

 heavy a load causes shn 

 stems of the berries wit 



to the opposite 

 vines attain full 

 r main stem can 

 .'rcat care. Too 

 I all is lost. The 

 it turns sour be- 

 laterals is very 

 oint beyond the 



is thinuiug the clusters 

 and establishingthe load 

 a vine has to carry. This 

 requires experience and 

 judgment. As a rule, 

 about one-half the clus- 

 ters should be removed 

 — often uioi-o — care being 



the 



A long or old spiir is shown on the left. 



pinch thereafter as fast as new shoots break and show 

 a leaf. Pinch early and often. It has been said that a 

 good gardener can carry the summer prunings from a 

 large vinery for an entire season in his vest pocket. 

 Some require a wheelbarrow. At the place where the 

 laterals start, a spur soon forms on the main stem, from 



~ early 

 .rra of 

 e seen. 



vhen it may be we 



ad other shy setting kinds, 

 it for the berries to set, as 

 et perfectly while others fail. 

 Thinning the berries should be attended to promptly, 

 selecting cool days and mornings for this work. Close 

 growing kinds, like Alicante, cannot be commenced on 

 too early after setting, and it is much better to crowd 

 this work than to have it crowd the operator. In many 

 varieties one-third to one-half the berries have to be 

 removed. Experience is the only guide in this. A 

 pointed stick is very useful with the vine scissors, and 

 never touch the clusters with the fingers. 



Tvi-r_- lip 'lie ohnulders of the fl.^-. .,•■-■ '■■ „.•.•.■ = ■ nrv to 



I" roiil -I i| irrnlntioii of air an. I ]<••<■• ..Hm -o'tlie 



former is sulfur, and for'the latter nloistiire,' :\mdew 

 is generally brought on by a sudden change of tempera- 

 ture. A vigorous condition of the vine has much to do 

 in resisting it. Red spider will almost always appear in 

 the hot weather of July and August if the vines are 

 allowed to become too dry. 



Thrips are sometimes very injurious, but can be con- 

 trolled with nicotine, which, if properlv applied, will 

 not injure the fruit. Thrips and rod siuder. if not taken 

 in time, multiply rapidly, ami '•an onneo of prevention 

 is worth a pound of curt;" in 1 1n -r ■■avi-. 



Perhaps, in a general way. tlm most imiioitant rei|uisite 

 of all is a large amount of eiitliuviasm and love for the 

 work. This is necessary to insure the continued care 

 and culture requisite to permanent success. 



Tlie Fruit Varieties.— As said before, very many va- 

 rieties exist, but prohalilvnot one-half of these are in 

 active cultivation ai iln |ni-iiit time. Varieties are 

 adapted to localii; ates, etc. Perhaps 50 



have been grown i.i ' i iliis country. Of these 



we will consider a ; -\ •>: li" m. ro ]ironnnent. 



The Black Haml.urg is more extensively f,'rown and 

 of more value for this purpose tlian ail otln rv put 

 together, because it meets the requin nn m^ oi ilm ordi- 

 nary cultiv.ator, and will stand abuse ami mijle.t and 

 still give fair results better than any other kind. It 

 rarely gives very large clusters, but is a free bearer, sets 

 perfectly, will carry heavy loads and matures early. 

 Under better care the appearance and improvement in 



