74 



TRELLIS FOR THE GRAPE. 



in Fig. 57. The chestnut, larch and cedar posts are of about 

 equal durability. Posts of sawn two by three-inch stuff are often 

 used, and have the advantage, that if they are renewed just 

 before they break off, the new stakes may be easily inserted 

 where the old ones were removed without making a new hole, 

 if the work is done in the spring. 



TRELLISES. In this method, many kinds of trellises have 

 been used, but the best and most commonly used is made of 

 posts, nine feet long, set from fifteen to twenty feet apart, and 

 three feet below the surface. The end posts should be large and 

 well braced, while smaller ones may be used in the middle. Upon 

 these posts (Fig. 58) are placed three or four No. 14 galvanized 

 wires, the first one being not less than two feet from the groun' 1 . 

 These are fixed in place with staples, and the wires are stretched 

 loy means of levers or by the common barbed-wire stretcher. 

 No. 16 wire is sometimes used, but is rather small to support a 

 great weight of vine and fruit; and the larger the wire the more 

 distant can the posts be set. 



TRAINING. Having the stakes set or the trellis made the third 

 year, the vine must be established upon the supports. If the 

 stakes are used, the system of training consists in simply winding 

 one cane arounde ach stake, and fixing it in two or three places so 

 that it shall not slip down (Figs. 56 and 57). The string of any 

 coarse, strong material, should be tied with a loop around the 

 vine so as to allow for ihe increase in size by growth. 



The third season the fruit is borne upon the laterals from the 

 main cane, but the fourth year it is borne upon spurs made by 

 cutting these laterals back to three buds in the fall or winter, 

 as shown at a, Fig. 58. The pruning each year after the vine 



Fig. 58. 



has become established consists in simply cutting back the last 

 season's canes to spurs. Only a limited number of spurs should 



