HOW RINGING AFFECTS GRAPES. 



tions tests have been carried on for two 

 seasons in two localities. At Pough- 

 keepsie the vines were trained on the 

 two-arm Kiffin system and both arms of 

 most of the vines tested were ringed 

 beyond the fifth bud, four vines only 

 being ringed beyond the renewal bud. 

 No difference was noticed between these 

 two methods ; but great difference, par- 

 ticularly with some varieties, between 

 ringed and unringed vines. Delaware 

 ripened 9 days earlier, Niagara 14 days, 

 Concord 17 days and Empire State 21 

 days ; and there was a slight gain in 

 size with Moore's Early and Niagara ; 

 but Delaware and Moore's Early showed 

 a decided loss in quality, and Worden's 

 tendency to crack was decidedly in- 

 creased. Two vines of Niagara ringed 

 beyond the renewal bud, succumbed to 

 the treatment, dying before the second 

 season was over. The results of the 

 second season, which was dry and hot 

 toward its close, were not so marked 

 Empire State was the only variety to 

 show gain in size and hasten maturity. 



At Lodi the renewal system is used 

 and vines were ringed just beyond the 

 renewal bud. All varieties tested show- 

 ed a gain in size, compactness of 

 bunches or earliness ; this being quite 



marked with Concord, Geneva and Nia- 

 gara ; but the quality of the finer- flavor- 

 ed sorts, as Delaware and Niagara, was 

 inferior on the ringed vines. In the 

 second season no new growth was al- 

 lowed to form beyond the truit on some 

 of the ringed vines, the ends of the 

 vines being trimmed off; and the quality 

 of fruit was improved on such vines. 

 As at Poughkeepsie, the differences in 

 size and earliness were not so striking 

 as in the preceding season. 



These experiments tend to show that 

 ringing will mature grapes of some vari- 

 eties earlier, and will make larger and 

 more compact bunches ; but the amount 

 of difference will vary with the variety, 

 season, condition of foliage, cultural 

 care, and quantity of fruit allowed to 

 mature on the vine The quality of 

 finely flavored grapes is liable to be 

 lowered ; but this may be remedied to 

 some extent by trimming ringed vines 

 so but little new growth forms. With 

 careful management the vitality of the 

 vines need not be seriously impaired. 



The question of desirability of ringing 

 and profit therefrom is one which each 

 grower must decide for himself. — Geneva 

 Bui. 151. 



Whale-oil soap should cost about 

 four cents per pound when bought in 

 quantity. It requires no preparation 

 other than dissolving in water, and or- 

 dinarily is easily applied. Care should 

 be observed to get an article that will 

 not turn to jelly when dissolved at this 

 rate, for jellied soap is very difficult to 

 spray. The above strength, two pounds 

 to a gallon, should never be applied ex- 

 cept in the winter when the trees are 

 entirely dormant, for an application 

 when the buds are swelling or when the 

 leaves are on the tree is sure to do great 

 injury to the tree. 



Propagating Strawberries. — Ifone 

 has a variety of strawberry desirable for 

 propagation, it is a good practice to peg 

 down the earliest runners close to the 

 ground. If small stones are at hand, 

 one placed at the end of the runner will 

 do as well. Pegs are easily made, cut- 

 ting twigs into lengths of eight or ten 

 inches, and splitting them. They will 

 then bend like hair-pins ; or tooth-picks 

 may be utalized. If small pots of rich 

 earth be placed under the runner's bud, 

 so much the better for an early and 

 strong plant. 



217 



