148 



es, sometimes even to one-third or one-half the number of 

 bunches set. But experience proves that you will grow 

 not only larger and finer clusters but actually more pounds 

 oi fruit. 



Another thing our most careful cultivators and premium 

 takers do. They bag the best bunches. When the grapes 

 are about one-half grown they slip a common grocer's 

 paper bag over the bunch they want to protect, and pin 

 around the vine on both sides of the stem. This keeps it 

 free from dust and many insect pests. Yet we are told 

 it retards the ripening for about one week. But a frost 

 that would cut the foliage would not harm the grapes thus 

 protected. Another method to improve the fruit is to 

 grow as little wood as possible. When a cane has attained 

 the length you desire nip it in. Go over the vines every 

 week or oftener nipping in all straggling shoots. Cutting 

 away leaves to let the sun in is a great mistake and should 

 never be done. The leaves are the lungs of the plant, and 

 every considerable injury or destruction of or to the foli- 

 age is an injury and leads to disease if not death. You 

 will find your largest and finest bunches hidden beneath 

 the dense foliage. 



The vine, like all vegetation, has its diseases and insect 

 enemies to contend with, and often frustrates our best en- 

 deavors. Maay washes have been recommended for appli- 

 cation, as lime, sulphate of iron and sulphate of copper, 

 sulphur, and even Paris green mixed with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture for spraying the vines. I object to mixing poison with 

 my food, and try to keep my vines in a healthy growing 

 condition, so as to escape the need of these remedies of 

 doubtful utility and safety. Sulphur is safe and useful and 

 does not scorch the leaves. The stronger remedies may 

 kill the disease, but destroy the vine as well, or the leaves 

 which are its principle organs of life and growth. In fact 

 the Bordeaux mixture could not be sprayed upon a vine 

 trained upon a painted buiding without great detriment to 

 the same. 



