364 



Tlie Grape Culturist. 



the rapid evaporation, under a hot 

 sun, of the moisture from the damp 

 earth, producing what we call a sultry 

 atmosphere. Now, under this arrange- 

 ment, one-half of the area of the vine- 

 yard is shaded during the critical sea- 

 son, and more water sinks into the 

 earth or is carried off b}^ well regu- 

 lated furrows, and less is evaporated 

 to contribute to a sultry atmosphere. 

 I think, furthermore, that the drip- 

 ping from overhanging foliage has 

 an unfavorable effect upon the fruit 

 below; and also tends to promote rot. 

 This is almost entirely prevented under 

 this arrangement. Further, the vines 

 will be loss exposed to high winds and 

 to scorching suns; and the fruit still 

 more from the latter. And whatever 

 may be true of the European vine, 

 my observation has taught me that 

 our American varieties produce more 

 perfect fruit when it is partially pro- 

 tected from a burning sun at 125*^ to 

 130^, as we have it more or less fre- 

 quently, in our section at least, every 

 summer. Still another advantage is 

 to be found in the protection which 

 the vines are afforded by this arrange- 

 ment. The inclination of the vine 

 from the cultivator prevents the abra- 

 sion of the former by the singletree 

 when operating outside of the trellis; 

 and the inclination of the I'afters pre- 

 vents the too near approach of the 

 horse, and consequently of the imple- 

 ment, when operating inside of the 

 trellis. 



Moreover, after the first of July, 

 in our section, the shade over the 

 inside surface will render further cul- 

 tivation almost unnecessary, by check- 

 ing the growth of grass and weeds ; 

 and will secure for the balance of the 



growing season a broad belt of light, 

 permeable soil,through which the roots 

 will revel in delight, while those out- 

 side may be suffering under an ex- 

 haustive drought. 



To sum up, it seems to me that the 

 plan promises advantages which 

 should encourage a trial of it by 

 grape growers in the South, at least 

 where a partial protection of both 

 vine and fruit from a burning sun and 

 a parching drought — if not also from 

 an excess of a sultry atmosphere — is 

 a desirable end. 



Richmond, Va., October 16, 1S69. 



[We publish the above communica- 

 tion of our valued correspondent with 

 pleasure, because we wish to have all 

 modes of training discussed, but we 

 hardly believe that it will give 

 satisfactory results, at least here 

 and further North. "We have seen 

 the triangular or tripod S3\stem 

 tried, which is essentially the same, 

 and never did we see the mildew 

 worse. It has been tried in Pennsyl- 

 vania already, and with very disas- 

 trous results. We would advise even 

 our friend to " trj' it sparingl}" and in 

 small doses." We think the roofing 

 system, as tried by our friend Wm. 

 Saunders, at the Experimental Gar- 

 dens in Washington, not more expen- 

 sive in its construction, and a 7iiuch 

 better preventative against the mil- 

 dew. But the best preventative is 

 early and close pinching of the fruit- 

 bearing shoots, and to lead the young 

 canes up to the upper wire so that 

 they do not interfere, with their rank 

 foliage, with thorough ventilation of 

 the fruit. 



His idea of intermingling the Del- 

 aware, Alvey, etc., slow growing vari- 



