RINGING (J RAPES 293 



X<it n'nt/ed. Half ringed. Full rin<i<-,l. 



Total fruit 100 83 62 



First -class 100 77 59 



Diameter of new canes 100 97 87 



"I cannot avoid the conclusion that wherever a grape vine 

 will fairly ripen fruit by natural processes, girdling is an 

 operation that cannot be commended, certainly not for its 

 commercial results. Its disadvantages are greater than its 

 advantages. The fruit possesses no attractions for the 

 connoisseur, and one year or more must be given the vine 

 to recover from its effects. It is possible that in some sit- 

 uations or circumstances where the seasons are not long 

 enough to ripen the fruit naturally, a crop might be saved 

 by girdling if the grower were willing to devote the suc- 

 ceeding season to generous feeding, without production of 

 fruit, in order to fit the vine for a crop in alternate years. 

 I doubt somewhat if even this is feasible, as my vines 

 girdled in 1890 have not yet full recovered." 



Ring ing in the Hudson River Valley 



" For many years, I know not how long, it has been known 

 that by obstructing the return flow of sap in the part of a 

 grape vine bearing fruit, the size of the fruit would be in- 

 creased, and it would color abnormally early. This could 

 be attained by removing a ring of bark, or binding the 

 branch tightly with a wire. It is only within the last decade 

 that this knowledge has been turned to practical account in 

 America. Some twelve or fifteen years ago, grape-growers 

 in the Hudson River Valley would occasionally exhibit at the 

 fairs enormous specimens of grapes. That the vines produc- 

 ing them had been girdled was frequently charged, sometimes 

 denied ; and if admitted, it was with shamefacedness, and 

 the specimens were generally ruled out of the competition. 

 A little later a few vines were girdled, and their product 



