176 AMEEICAN GRAPE GEOWING 



cashin's trellises. 



The metliods of training shown in the illustrations 

 (figs. 26 and 27) have many advantages over those com- 

 monly used by grape-growers, and are well adapted to 

 our strong growing native vines, especially those of the 

 cordifoUa or riparia species. Some of the advantages 

 may be named as follows : Cheapness, simplicity, and a 

 great saving in the labor of tying, which is almost done 

 away Avith except after intervals of years when the arms 

 are renewed, then ties are necessary to hold the arms in 

 place for the first season, after which they retain the form 

 given them. Tying is an important item, as many 

 grape-growers know to their cost. 



The horizontal position of the vine and droopmg form 

 which the fruiting canes assume, are in accord with the 

 natural habit of the grape-vine. This and the check 

 given to the flow of sap towards the top of the vine by 

 winding the arms around poles, as in figure 26, or bend- 

 ing them in a serpentine form, as in figure 27, has the 

 effect of more evenly distributing wood-producing and 

 fruit-forming material, thereby keeping up a proper bal- 

 ance between the top and base of the vine. 



In both methods the fruit hangs under the foliage and 

 is shaded from the glare and heat of the sun. Grapes 

 protected in this manner have a much finer bloom than 

 when exposed. The canes are pruned to spurs of two or 

 three buds. Summer-pruning is not resorted to except 

 to repress the overgrowth of canes to the end that there 

 may be a free circulation of air under the vines ; though 

 there can be no doubt that a judicious summer-pruning 

 would be beneficial. 



What I have called the ^' Horizontal Spiral " method, 

 is shown in figure 26. The trellis is formed of locust 

 stakes sy.^ feet long, Sy^ inches thick, and are set to a 

 depth of 18 inches, leaving them 4 feet high. Round 



