136 



HOME FRUIT GROWER 



less attention than a Lilac or a Currant bush, so for a novelty both 

 as an ornamental and a fruit-bearing plant it deserves a place on the 

 lawn. It is ornamental in leaf, flower and fruit and is not troubled by 

 bugs or diseases. Unfortunately, plants of two or three related species 

 are sometimes substituted for the true Elaeagnus multiflora (longipes). 

 As the fruit of these is inferior to the genuine they are useful only for 

 ornament. 



GRAPE 



Of all fruits the Grape exhibits the most Christian spirit, 

 since it returns a far greater measure of good for evil than does any 

 other. Under neglect Strawberries, Raspberries and Rlackberries 

 yield nubbins or nothing; Currants and Gooseberries shake their 

 gaunt and naked canes as warning fingers at their neglectors; and 

 the tree fruits petulantly fling their distorted, wormy, scabby speci- 

 mens as mute recriminations on the ground. Not so the Grape; in 

 spite of the most wanton neglect accorded any plant it smilingly reveals 

 its forgiveness by presenting fruit to its owner as a silent plea for 



reasonable feeding and 

 care (Fig. 96). 



You fear the pruning, 

 eh? Cast your fears 

 aside. The Grape is the 

 most forgiving plant in 

 the world. It will bear 

 in spite of unscientific 

 pruning. If that isn't 

 reassuring enough, remem- 

 ber that it bears in nature 

 even when no knife, saw, 

 shears, or other pruning 

 implement comes within 

 miles of it ! Furthermore, 

 remember that even 

 though perhaps you don't: 

 quite understand and 

 don't follow exactly the 

 method insisted upon by 

 John Doe or Richard Roe, 

 neither one of these fa- 

 mous gentlemen knows as 



Fig. 96.-Grapes on ordinary trellises require an mucl ? as the vines do! So 

 extraordinary amount of pruning in spite of what you may 



