SECRETARY'S REPORT. 161 



the middle of the day, when its heat is greatest, warming the 

 soil down to the roots of the vines, and quickening them into 

 vigorous growth. Never shade your vineyard if it is possible to 

 avoid it. 



At the end of the second year prune your vine to one stem, 

 long enough to reach the lower bar of the espalier or trellis, 

 which it is now time to make, unless you prefer to train the 

 vines on poles. 



I prefer the trellis because it is more easy to manage, (if the 

 vine is hardy, and does not need to be taken down and protected 

 during winter;) the surface will be flat, and it will be more easy 

 to pinch the vines in summer, and to gather the crop in autumn. 

 If the vine is trained upon poles, its long shoots hang over and 

 upon each other, the leaves get smothered and die for want of 

 light and air, and in case of long-continued rain, both leaf and 

 berry may suffer with mildew. Another advantage, is that the 

 trellis will last a dozen years or more without repair, while the 

 poles must be renewed every year or two. 



The trellis may be easily made by setting posts between the 

 vines, at twelve feet apart, and nailing two pieces of scantling 

 upon the posts, one at twenty inches from the ground, and the 

 other at six feet from the ground. Now take wire of one- 

 eighth of an inch diameter and fasten to the top and lower bar 

 at about three inches from each other. The growing vine will 

 attach itself, by means of its tendrils, to these wires. The grow- 

 ing shoots lay along this flat surface, securely fastened by their 

 own act, and are well exposed to light, and air, and heat, the 

 great essentials of success in grape culture. 



These wires, I may add, will be as durable as if galvanized, if 

 they are carefully annealed in a charcoal fire, and much cheaper. 



Having made your trellis, and got the strong stem of your 

 vine up to the first bar, you will allow only the two eyes nearest 

 the top of the vine to grow. Train these growing shoots upon 

 the espalier, right and left, at an angle of about 45°, thus giving 

 to the vine the form of the letter Y. Pinch these growing arms 

 occasionally to strengthen the wood and the buds, and, in 

 November, prune them back to a strong eye and strong wood ; 

 for these arms are to yield, for all the future, the bearing spurs 

 which are to give you fruit. In due time these side arms will 

 reach the top of the espalier, beyond which they are never to be 



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