680 



GRAPE 



GRAPE 



Any fruit appearing on this shoot should be removed. 

 The lateral shoots that start out each way below the 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 establishing our vine for a 

 long term of years, and it is desirable to have it sym- 

 metrical with the side shoots, and fruit evenly distrib- 

 uted over its entire length. An example of a well bal- 

 anced vine is given in the illustration of the Muscat 

 Hamburg. A few clusters of fruit may be taken from 

 this part of the vine this second year, and the laterals 

 should be pinched at two eyes beyond the cluster, and as 

 they break pinched again through the season. As soon 

 as the leaves fall, the vines are again taken down for 

 pruning. The terminal should be shortened about one- 

 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 of the third year the terminal 

 again goes to the top of the house without fruit, when 

 it is stopped and the laterals are allowed to bear as be- 

 fore, say not more than one pound of fruit per foot of 

 the main stem. We now have our vine established to 

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

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

 A bud will nearly always be found in the first one- 

 eighth inch, sometimes several of them. When these 

 start, the strongest is selected and the others rubbed 

 off, unless one is desired for training to the opposite 

 side to fill a vacancy there. When the vines attain full 

 strength, two pounds of fruit per foot of main stem can 

 be grown, but heavy loads require great care. Too 

 heavy a load causes shanking, and then all is lost. The 

 stems of the berries wither and the fruit turns sour be- 

 fore ripening. Rigid pinching of the laterals is very 

 important. Commence at the second joint beyond the 

 cluster, or about 18 inches from the main stem, and 



978. Pruning to spurs. 

 A long or old spur 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 



979. 

 The spurs pruned. 



which the system takes its name. It often becomes 

 several inches in length and quite ungainly. This spur 

 system of pruning is represented in Figs. 978-980. 



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 

 entire length the first season, the laterals 

 being pinched, as before described. It 

 will produce finer fruit, but it is not as 

 safe with a heavy load as an old cane. 



An ample supply of water judiciously 

 and freely used, particularly at the time of 

 starting the vines, is an absolute neces- 

 sity. It should not be applied in the 

 house, however, during the period of 

 blossoming, as a dry air 

 is advantageous for the 

 transfer of the pollen 

 for fertilization. 



An important feature 

 is thinning the clusters 

 and establishing the load 

 a vine has to carry. This 

 requires experience and 

 judgment. As a rule, 

 about one-half the clus- 

 ters should be removed 

 of ten more care being 

 taken to balance the load 

 evenly on each side. This 

 should be done as early 

 as the general form of 

 the clusters can be seen, 

 except with the Muscats and other shy setting kinds, 

 when it may be well to wait for the berries to set, as 

 some clusters set 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. 



Tying up the shoulders of the clusters is necessary to 

 permit a free circulation of air and light, otherwise the 

 interior may decay, and, once started, the cluster is soon 

 gone. The principal diseases or troubles to guard 

 against are mildew and red spider. The remedy for the 

 former is sulfur, and for the latter moisture. Mildew 

 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 properly applied, will 

 not injure the fruit. Thrips and red spider, if not taken 

 in time, multiply rapidly, and "an ounce of prevention 

 is worth a pound of cure" in these cases. 



Perhaps, in a general way, the most important requisite 

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

 work. This is necessary to insure the continued care 

 and culture requisite to permanent success. 



The Fruit Varieties. As said before, very many va- 

 rieties exist, but probably not one-half of these are in 

 active cultivation at the present time. Varieties are 

 adapted to localities, soils, climates, etc. Perhaps 50 

 have been grown under glass in this country. Of these 

 we will consider a few of the more prominent. 



The Black Hamburg is more extensively grown and 

 of more value for this purpose than all others put 

 together, because it meets the requirements of the ordi- 

 nary cultivator, and will stand abuse and neglect 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 



