TRAINING GRAPES IN EASTERN AMERICA 135 



These long canes are drooped over the upper wire obliquely 

 down to the lower wire to which they are tied just above the 

 last bud, forming an unbrella-shaped top as shown in Fig. 19. 

 The renewals are made as in the Four-cane Kniffin. This 

 method reduces the amount of leaf surface to the minimum, 

 so that care must be taken to insure healthy leaf growth. 

 The amount of fruiting-wood put up is also reduced to the 

 minimum, so that the yield is low unless good cultiva- 

 tion is provided, in which case, with some varieties and 

 on some soils, the yield is up to the average and the 

 crop is first-class as regards size of bunch and berry, compact- 

 ness of bunch and maturity. 



The Two-trunk Kniffin. 



The Two-trunk Kniffin, illustrated in Fig. 20, is another 

 modification with the aim of securing greater fruitfulness. 

 This method also provides an equal number of buds on both 



wires. Two trunks are 



brought from the root, 

 one to the upper, the 

 other to the lower wire. 

 The fruiting canes are _ 

 taken off and are dis- 

 posed of as in the 

 Four-cane Kniffin. The 

 trunks are usually tied 



together to hold them FlG . 2 0. Two-trunk Kniffin training. 



in place. This method 

 is in restricted use in the Hudson River Valley where it is 

 known under the name given here and as "Double Kniffin" 

 and "Improved Kniffin." In experiments in training grapes 

 at Fredonia, New York, under the direction of the New York 

 Experiment Station, this method proves to be one of the 

 poorest in growing Concords. The grapes fall short in size of 



